COLUMBIA  LIBRARIES  OFFSITE 

HEALTH  SCIENCES  STANDARD 


RECAP 

RJ206Am3  Health  plays  for  sch.  LJ  TD  J  A    ^f    Q? 

FOR  SCHOOL  CHILDREN 


As  Developed  by 

Teachers  and  Pupils 

in    the   Public    Schools 

in  Greater  New  York 


J0 


fiJ  206 


4*1   3 


Columbia  (Rmttttgftp 

College  of  $fjpgirian£f  anb  burgeons; 
Htbrarp 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Open  Knowledge  Commons 


http://www.archive.org/details/healthplaysforscOOchil 


HEALTH   PLAYS 
FOR  SCHOOL  CHILDREN 

As  Developed  by 

Teachers  and  Pupils 

in  the  Public  Schools 

in  Greater  New  York 


Printed  by  the  Health  Service 

New  York  County  Chapter  American  Red  Cross 

598  Madison  Avenue 

for 

Child  Health  Organization  of  America 

Penn  Terminal  Building,  370  Seventh  Avenue 
New  York  City 


ft  1*3 


192 1,  by  Child  Health  Organization 
of  America 


A  second  edition  will  be  printed  by  the 
Child  Health  Organization  of  America, 
if    there     is    sufficient     demand. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

WHERE  THEY  ALL  COME  FROM 4 

A  MESSAGE  TO  BOYS  AND  GIRLS.. 5 

THE  KING  OF  FOODS  (a) 9 

Elizabeth  Kip 
THE  WIZARDRY  OF  MILK 15 

Rae  Abraham 
THE  HOUSE  THAT  HEALTH  BUILT 18 

Sara  E.  Bower 
THE  PIED  PIPER  OF   HEALTH.. 19 

Sarah  Neuman 
THE  VALUE  OF  MILK. 23 

Carrie  W.  Kearns 
THE  KING  OF  FOODS  (b) 25 

Julia  H.  Doyle 
THE  CARPENTERS'  UNION 28 

Estelle  L.  Silverman 
OUR  FRIEND  MILK 32 

Isabel  H.  Huggins 
THE  ROAD  TO  HEALTH..... 35 

Dramatization   of   a   food   talk   written   by   Misses 

McKeown,  Spencer  and  Sweet.     Arranged  by  Eliz- 
abeth Kip 
YOUNG  AMERICA  AND  THE  MAGIC  CARPENTERS.     44 

Margaret  Knox  and  Anna  M.  Lufkenhaus 
A  DAY  IN  HAPPY  LAND..... 48 

L.  W.  Barrus 
THE  MAGIC  MILK  GAME.. 59 

Victoria  Heindel 

MARY'S  VEGETABLE  GARDEN...... 61 

Rena  B.  Johnson 
THE  STORY  THE  MILK  TOLD  TO  ME 63 

Gertrude  Noyes 

Adaptation  by  Bessie  E.  Beckwith 
DR.  MILK  BOTTLE 65 

Minnie  H.  Niemeier 


WHERE  THEY  ALL  CAME  FROM 


IN  May,  1920,  during  the  Milk  and  Child  Health 
Campaign,  health  plays  were  given  in  a  contest 
held  at  the  Grand  Central  Palace,  New  York  City, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Child  Health  Organization  of 
America,  co-operating  with  the  New  York  State  Depart- 
ment of  Farms  and  Markets  and  the  Department  of 
Home  Economics,  Cornell  University. 

Forty  New  York  Public  Schools  were  invited  to  com- 
pete, a  prize  being  given  each  day  to  the  school  making 
the  most  graphic  presentation  of  the  value  of  milk. 
Milk  facts  were  presented  in  various  ways,  the  informal 
play  proving  perhaps  the  most  popular. 

On  five  days'  notice,  teachers  in  the  public  schools, 
building  upon  the  facts  in  a  pamphlet  entitled  "Milk, 
the  Master  Carpenter,"  which  is  reprinted  here,  were 
able  to  make  a  splendid  showing.  What  they  did  with- 
out being  health  or  dramatic  experts,  other  teachers  can  do. 
Their  success  marks  merely  the  beginning  of  a  much 
wider  use  of  the  amateur  health  play.  Though  some 
of  the  authors  were  teachers  of  Domestic  Science,  many 
were  grade  teachers.  All  very  generously  donated 
their  manuscripts,  to  make  this  book  possible,  and 
through  it  to  give  the  plays  to  the  country. 

Children  love  the  dramatic  form  and  the  plays  will  be 
found  useful  in  teaching  the  formation  of  health  habits. 
The  health  lesson  is  made  effective  when  the  child  who 
is  living  the  "Game  of  Health" — is  drinking  milk  and 
eating  cereal,  and  fruit  or  green  vegetables  daily,  sleep- 
ing with  windows  open  and  bringing  weight  up  to  stand- 
ard— takes  in  such  plays  a  leading  part. 

Many  of  these  plays  were  given  at  the  contest  and  are 
printed  as  presented  in  more  or  less  impromptu  form. 
All  of  them  are  a  result  of  the  growing  tendency  to  teach 
health  in  the  most  vivid  and  amusing  way.  It  is  hoped 
that  they  will  prove  a  stimulus  to  many  original  pro- 
ductions. 


A    MESSAGE 
to  Boys  and  Girls 


from  the 


Child   Health   Organization   of  America 

Penn  Terminal  Building,  370  Seventh  Avenue,  New  York 


MILK 

The  Master  Carpenter 

Milk  has  a  power  beyond  all  other  foods  to 
build  strong  bodies  for  boys  and  girls. 
Every  time  you  drink  a  glass  of  milk,  you 
are  really  setting  to  work  fine  magic  little 
carpenters,    who    are    expert    body    builders. 


Protein  the 

Muscle 

Builder 


Protein  is  the  carpenter  who  builds 
muscle  and  brings  you  energy  and  vital- 
ity for  work  and  play.  You  find  him 
in  the  thick  curd  of  sour  milk  and  in 
cheese.  You  also  find  him  in  meat,  but 
he  does  better  work  when  he  lives  in  milk 
bottles  than  when  he  comes  from  the 
butcher  shop. 


Lime  the 
Bone  Builder 


The  carpenter  called  Lime  or  Calcium 
helps  to  build  strong  bones  and  firm  white 
teeth. 


Fat  the 
Warmth  and 
Energy 
Builder 


If  you  would  have  warmth  for  your  body, 
you  must  call  upon  the  merry  little  car- 
penter called  Fat.  He  also  gives  you 
the  energy  to  work  and  play  like  his 
brother  Protein. 


Sugar  another 
Warmth  and 
Energy  Builder 


Sugar  is  another  busy  carpenter  who 
helps  his  brother  Fat  make  both  warmth 
and  energy. 


The  Magic 
Triplets 


There  are  three  mysterious  carpenters 
who  work  as  if  by  magic.  They  have 
been  called  the  Vitamines,  and  we  know 
very  little  about  them  except  that  they 
have  the  magic  power  of  making  your 
bodies  grow. 


If  you  are  as  much  as  10%  below  weight  for 
your  height  and  age,  call  on  the  milk  carpenters 


In  order  that  these  helpful  little  builders 
may  give  you  their  full  share  of  work, 
you  must  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk 
a  day.  You  may  drink  this  from  a 
glass,  or  take  it  in  cocoa,  creamed  vege- 
tables or  puddings. 


At  Least  a  Pint 
of  Milk  a  Day 


But  to  do  their  best  work  these  milk 
carpenters  need  to  work  side  by  side  with 
other  workmen,  one  of  whom  is  called 
Iron,  who  helps  to  build  red  blood.  You 
can  secure  his  services  by  eating  plenty  of 
green  vegetables  and  fruit.  You  will  also 
find  iron  in  eggs  and  meat. 


Iron  the  Body 
Builder 


But  you  will  have  to  have  some  work- 
men to  keep  your  house  in  order,  while 
all  these  carpenters  are  at  work.  For  this 
you  call  upon  the  Laxative  Brothers  by 
eating  fruit  and  green  vegetables,  so  that 
your  intestines  and  kidneys  may  be  kept 
clean  and  active. 


The  Laxative 
Brothers 


Because  active  boys  and  girls  need  so 
much  energy,  you  must  further  help  the 
milk  carpenters  by  eating  plenty  of  bread 
and  cereals. 


More  Energy 
Builders 


If  you  do  not  let  all  these  helpful  little     Up  to  Weight 
fellows   do   their   work,    you   will   have   a     A°greHeight  aad 
weak,  tired  body,  and  you  will  not  weigh 
enough  for  your  height  and  age. 


Drink  milk  in  the  mid-morning  and  the 
mid-afternoon  as  well  as  at  meals 


; 

ClCn4kCOtOk-COOO^OCn4-COto--COCe^OOi4kCOto>~c3©00^1ClUi4kCOtO*-©tO 

w 

Q 

§ 

o 

r 
w 

w 
o 

k: 

w 

boo             5 
M     w            . 

4k.  4k  4k  4k  4k  COCOCO 

OO^JCnCOi— to-iu> 

J* 

to 

30    >  : 

3 

C         i 
**•        o 

E 

<    : 

«    • 

E        * 
rf        o 

03         8 

O 

•  •  ■  ;>  :'i  :-i  j.  ^  ^  j.  j.  j.  ;c  :: 
■     ■     •     OlMMO'JJiJ'MOOSC 

3°> 

r  r  :i:t.i;iii--  j-  ~  —  co  co 
NOOOffii(-(OOjCOOiU>-tO»J 

3** 

OSODOO»OiCnOiCiifr*k*»fc 
<0CT>C0k-O~-lCnt0O00--IO>4k 

3 

■^^■40C5C500iOiOiOiifc 
-gGGO^I4-t0Ou00*C0*-O 

„'tc 

DY  Should  G 

401 

Joi.            12  to 
B  o».            16  to 

OOOOClX^I'HOOlOOlO'OiOi 
k-~44-k-0C4-k-00CJlC0O00C54k 

3  ° 

ooctooocccc^i^iMCJOioioioioi 

OlOOitOOOO'MOtiMCO'>J^f-OS 

►"I  — 

H-COtOOOOOOOOQC"k4fc4"*JO,>050 

3" 

X 

ain  Each  Month 
16 1( 

COCOCO  tO  tO  »—  CCOCDC300O!00^J~J*J 
00il'O0lOaiOp»'t£)*'O-4it>M»4ll'M 

►*it- 
3  w 

C  OiOi4-4kCOCOCOtOtO>— H-OOt0tO000000~l                                                                                               |K1>-' 
tO  -J  tO  ~J  lv5  <D  m  >-"  O  tO  -J  M  C5  tO  -4  tO  00  0>  tO  00                                                                                               1    |J  4k 

-J— -C>CnCn4*4k4-COCOtOtO*->-OOtOtOtOOO                                   KB             _         _ 

3  » 

3  °> 

0  o 

a>k-c>"-'C»i-'0">tooc4kcocno~icoccto-»i                                  —  g"        ^^™-^"^ 

0TB                                                                            __ 

3^ 

•jsoaoiui*-  *■  cococoto  to  —  —  i—                                                                                         1  J>~ 
-gto~j to-jto-jwocaoatvjtoc&o                                                                                    |  3  °° 

3 

£• 

-OOOi 

$ 

►  HOC 

f 

s 

o 

c 

0 

p. 

w 

0 

3 

M 

1 

rr 

> 

09 

c 

3 

H 

tr01 

03 

3 

<C   CD 

3" 

■  •     0 

o 

E  2 

10000         M 

0  0  o        C-> 

M    M    M            P 

a 
O 

P   Q. 

> 

2 

0  a 

ts 
H 

o 

o  £ 
n  n> 

ould  Gain 

AGE 

14  to  16.. 
16  to  18. 

o 
*3 

c 

p 

B" 

o 

s 

H 

3 

o 

■ 

a* 
o 

o 

a. 

3 

> 

a 

cr 

4-00 

o 

o 

e 

k^~JMO}C>0>C>OC>CiCiOCaCntnOiCnCnCnOiCflC7iC7»4k4k4k4k4k4k4k4k4k4kCO 
l0H"OO00-JCStn4»Wt0H-O!D00^J050i4'C0t0>-'Ot000-J0Jtn4>.C0t0i-'O<0 


4-4-4-4-4-COCOCO 

00  o>  4»  to  O  00  Ol  *> 


Cr,  ^i  ^  .u  ^  j-  ^  4-  o:  cc  O; 

C0f-»<D00-^OltOr-(O^)Ol 


OCnCnCnCnCn4k4k4k4k4k4kC0C0 
tOtOCi4k»OOtO-4CnCOtoOOOC5 


CsOiOiOiCnOiCnC7iCn4k4krfk4k 
oo  o>  co  o  ~j  en  co  >■ 


§4-  4^ » 
ooo>» 


*-J*40Cip5C50iC^CnCnOi4k 

OlMO-Jlf'P-  00054k  to  ►"■  tO 


000000^-<I-^CiCiO>CnCnCnOT 
COCn»--JCOOOOUitOtO^IOlCO 


O4*CD4kOClt0G04kh-00ClC0O00CS 


MMMMOOIOtDOOCOM^IOlOlOO 
CO*^ICni-'Oit-'Oik-*jcoOCntocO^|4kl-' 


lOtJNMwH-i-OOCO'JOCOCO-l-l-I 


w  w  w  to  to  to  io  —  —  O  O  O  CO  CO  00  00  ^J 
co4>.>-'cCc7.  i;o/;o;o»-o»'tDoiH  -^ 


4k  4-  CO  CO  CO  to  tO  to  —  M  M  O  O  tO  GO  'SI 
CnOO>COO-J4.tOOC«  —  OlOOlOO 


■  CO  CO  CO  to  to  t 


IOmmOOO 


00CO(OO>CO»-J4->—  004-tD4-tO 


4k4k4kCOCOCOtOtOtO>—  ■—  —  O 
tD4kO-~l4»OCOCntO©Oii->C» 


MB 


a  t- 


3  M 


KJhi 


Q 

W 

r 
w 

o 

a 


Order  this  folder  from    CHILD    HEALTH    ORGANIZATION    OF    AMERICA 
Price  $1  per  hundred  Penn  Terminal  Building,  New  York 

8 


THE  KING   OF   FOODS 


CHARACTERS 

A  Herald — Fruit — Cereal — Egg — Vege- 
tables —  Meat  —  Sugar  —  Attendant  on 
Meat  and  Sugar — Brown  Bread — Butter 
—  Milk  —  Coffee — Judge  —  Singers  and 
Dancers. 


Herald — Tarn  o'shanter,  tabard,  ruffles  and 
trumpet  pennant  are  made  of  crepe  paper,  as 
are  most  of  the  costumes  in  this  play.  A  fun- 
nel forms  the  end  of  the  trumpet.  Fruit's  hat 
is  a  huge  red  apple.  The  dress  has  a  painted 
fruit  border.  Cereal  wears  a  poppy  wreath 
and  a  dress  of  wheat-colored  strips  of  paper. 
Egg  is  in  white  with  yellow  bodice.  Vege- 
tables has  green  stockings  and  a  suit  of  long 
paper  leaves  wired — head  in  a  tall  orange  crepe  paper  "dunce  cap"  gathered  about 
the  neck,  with  slits  for  eyes  and  nose.  Meat  has  on  a  butcher's  apron  and  carries 
a  cleaver.  Sugar  is  daintily  dressed  in  white.  Attendant  is  in  white.  Brown 
Bread — A  loaf  is  a  large  paper  carton,  padded  and  covered  with  brown  crepe  paper. 
The  bottom  is  open  but  there  are  holes  for  arms  and  legs.  Butter  is  all  in  yellow, 
with  a  large  buttercup  hat.  Milk — A  cream-colored  cardboard  cylinder  with 
arm-holes,  forms  a  huge  milk  glass.  Judge  wears  a  college  gown  and  a  white  cut- 
paper  wig.      Coffee  is  all  in  brown,  with  turkey  feathers  in  her  cap. 


Herald —  I  know  something  that  I  am  going  to  tell, 

Do  as  we  advise  you  and  you'll  all  be  well ; 
Listen  very  carefully,  keep  as  still  as  mice, 
We  are  going  to  give  you  some  excellent  advice. 
(Calls  following  foods) 


Fruit —  Everybody  must  eat  some  fruit, 

Father  and  mother  and  baby  cute ; 
For  daily  fruit,  all  children  pine, 
Because  it  makes  them  well  and  fine. 

Cereal —  All  must  remember  cereals  to  eat, 

Because  they  give  the  body  heat. 
Remember  what  I  say,  use  me  every  day; 
You  will  find  that  I  pay,  pay,  pay. 

Vegetables —     Vegetables  help  keep  the  body  right, 

Use  me  daily  or  your  health  you'll  blight. 
Eat  me  for  supper,  and  also  for  dinner ; 
In  the  food  world,  the  vegetable's  a  winner. 


Egg- 


I  am  the  excellent  but  costly  egg, 
Listen  to  me  a  minute,  I  beg. 


Attendant —       (Leading  meat,  small  boy) — 

This  little  boy  is  to  represent  meat, 

I  want  you  all  to  see  him,  he  looks  so  very  neat. 

We  gave  this  part  to  one  who  isn't  tall, 

To  remind  you  to  make  your  meat  portions  small. 

(Leading  sugar) 

And  here's  a  little  girl,  she's  also  very  little, 

To  almost  everybody  she  is  a  favorite  victual. 

I  know  her  name  is  Sugar,  because  she  looks  so  sweet. 

Make  your  portions  of  sugar  just  as  small  as  meat. 

Brown  Bread — I  am  a  brown  loaf,  I  am  made  of  whole  wheat, 

For  feeding  the  children  I  am  quite  hard  to  beat ; 
My  sister,  the  white  loaf,  is  not  so  good  for  health, 
And  health,  my  dear  people,  is  better  than  wealth. 

Butter —  I  am  golden  butter,  my  price  is  very  high; 

People  when  they  buy  me  are  often  heard  to  sigh : 
But  I  have  something  in  me  that  makes  the  children 

grow, 
Let  them  spread  me  on  their  bread,  'twill  on  them 

health  bestow. 

Milk —  I  am  beautiful  milk,  I'm  a  wonderful  king, 

The  dear  little  children  my  praises  all  sing ; 
Without  me  the  babies  would  sicken  and  die, 
And  e'en  though  my  prices  go  up  to  the  sky, 


10 


Herald — 


No  person  on  earth  should  e'er  pass  me  by. 
I  am  sure  you  all  know  that  my  food  value's  high, 
And  so  I  appeal  to  you  all,  my  dear  people, 
Use  me,  my  value's  as  high  as  a  steeple. 

Dear  milk,  we  all  love  you  and  honor  you,  too, 
The  words  you  have  spoken  are  every  one  true. 
Come,  friends,  let  us  gather  around  him  and  sing 
Praises  and  honor,  we  owe  to  our  king. 
{All  begin  to  move  towards  milk — Co  fee  appears) 


Herald —  {seeing  coffee) 

Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!    What's  that?     What's  that? 

What's  that? 
At  my  first  glimpse  of  it,  I  thought  it  was  a  bat ! 
(Foods  repeat,  "Oh!  Oh!"  etc.) 

Herald —  {to  coffee) 

Who  are  you,  sir,  and  what's  your  name? 
We  do  not  want  you  slighted, 
But  it  seems  to  me  'twas  impolite 
To  come  here  uninvited. 

Coffee —  My  name  is  Coffee.     I  am  a  great  King, 

When  you  call  him  a  monarch,  you  say  a  false  thing. 
I  shall  take  out  my  sword  and  drive  him  away: 
Go  at  once!     Go  at  once!     You  cannot  here  stay ! 

Milk —  I  think  you're  the  one  to  be  driven  away, 

But  I  have  a  plan  to  decide  which  shall  stay ; 


ii 


To  try  our  case  let  us  get  a  magistrate, 

I  think  that's  the  best  way  to  ascertain  our  fate. 

(To  messenger) 

Go  get  the  judge !  Look  for  him  low !  Look  for  him  high ! 

Don't  come  back  without  him. 

Herald—  I  fly!     I  fly! 

Milk —  When  the  judge  comes  in,  we  can  each  state  our  case 

And  tell  our  powers  truly,  and  with  an  honest  face. 

Judge —  What's  all  the  trouble?     Who  wants  me  in  such  haste? 

Let  the  seekers  after  justice  before  me  here  be  placed. 

Herald —  Your  honor,  both  of  these  foods  claim  to  be  King: 

This  is  milk,  this  is  coffee. 
(To  coffee)  You  bold,  bad  thing! 

Judge —  You,  sir,  King  Coffee,  may  tell  your  story  first; 

(Aside)  In  a  case  of  this  kind,  it  is  best  to  know  the 
worst. 

Coffee —  Your  honor,  'twill  surprise  you — listen  to  my  story : 

Everybody  loves  me,  my  life  is  filled  with  glory, 
Grown-up  people  drink  me,  morning,  noon  and  night; 
Many  children  drink  me  and  their  health  I  blight. 
I  take  away  their  color,  I  make  some  thin  and  pale, 
I  make  some  cross  and  nervous,  and  I  do  it  without  fail. 
Don't  you  think  this  power  great  enough  to  make  me 
king? 

Herald —  O,  Dear  Milk,  your  case  looks  bad, 

I  feel  very,  very  sad — very  sad. 

Judge —  Well,  sir,  King  Milk,  this  fellow  has  great  power, 

Have  you  any  words  to  say  to  make  him  shrink  and 
cower? 


Milfc 


Your  honor,  those  that  know  me,  know  that  I've  done 

well. 
All  the  babies  I've  rescued,  I  really  couldn't  tell. 
People  when  they  know  me,  learn  to  love  me  truly; 
Grown-up  men  and  women,  and  children  so  unruly. 


12 


«€Sh 


Every  day  more  people  find  in  me  delight, 

Because  I  build  their  bodies  and  their  lives  make 

bright. 
This  creature  here  has  told  you  of  how  he  causes  woe, 
Pales  the  face  of  children,  he  surely  is  their  foe, 
How  he  makes  them  nervous,  how  he  breaks  them 

down, 
Children  in  the  country,  children  in  the  town. 
If  I  caused  such  trouble,  I  should  be  ashamed, 
I  would  not  call  myself  a  King,  I'd  feel  myself  de- 
famed. 
Listen  to  the  things  I  do,  hear  what  I've  to  say, 
And  if  you  do  not  say  I'm  King,  I'll  take  myself  away. 
I  make  the  children  rosy,  I  make  the  children  tall, 
I  make  them  glad  and  happy,  and  health  I  give  to  all. 
A  drink  of  milk  will  give  them  a  sound  and  quiet  sleep ; 
No  nerves  rise  up  to  tease  them,  their  slumber  is  too 

deep. 
I  always  leave  behind  me  a  merry  little  throng 
With  sunshine  on  their  faces  and  on  their  lips  a  song. 
It  is  a  wondrous  power,  to  gladden  childhood  so, 
If  you  consult  the  mothers,  they'll  say  it's  true,  I  know. 
To  build  up  children's  bodies,  the  ones  that  he  breaks 

down, 
To  give  them  warmth  and  action,  this  is  enough  re- 
nown. 


Judge —  (Interrupting) 

Dear  friend,  you  need  no  longer  speak,  I  understand 

my  duty; 
I  clearly  see  you  as  you  are,  your  works  of  wondrous 

beauty; 
Of  all  the  foods  I've  ever  judged,  you  surely  are  the 

King. 
(To  Coffee) 

And  as  for  you,  bad  coffee,  you  are  a  horrid  thing. 
You  cannot  stay  here  longer,  you  must  prepare  to  go, 
To  all  your  abject  pleading,  my  answer  must  be — NO. 
You'd  better  go  at  once,  sir,  these  foods  are  good  and 

stout, 
And  you'll  get  rough  treatment  from  them,  I  haven't 

any  doubt. 
(Exit  Cojfee  hastily) 


13 


All —  He's  gone,  he's  gone,  Ha,  Ha,  Ha,  Ha,  Ha. 

He's  gone!     He's  gone!   Ha!  Ha!   Ha!  Ha!   Ha! 
To  celebrate  our  victory,  let  us  dance  and  sing ; 
Come,  let  us  gather  round  dear  milk,  and  hail  him  as 

our  King. ' 
Around  our  hero,  we  dance  and  sing, 
For  Milk  in  the  children's  world  is  King! 

Herald —  I  see  some  strangers  coming  in,  singers  they  seem  to  be. 

Let's  ask  them  for  a  song  and  dance,  do  you  not  all 

agree? 
{Enter  Singers) 

Herald —  Will  you  oblige  us  with  a  dance,  and  also  with  a  song? 

Strangers —       We'll  sing  you  one  of  bread  and  milk,  'twill  not  be 
very  long. 

(Song) 
When  your  children  are  pale  and  anemic 

I  am  sure  they  need  milk  and  brown  bread ; 
Oh,  give  them  these  and  excellent  green  vegetables, 
Do  not  wait  till  they're  sick  and  in  bed! 

Do  you  know  what's  a  very  good  supper? 

It's  quite  easy,  just  milk  and  brown  bread; 
They  will  give  pleasant  dreams  in  the  night  time, 

In  the  morning,  they'll  give  a  clear  head. 
(Dance  by  strangers) 

Herald —  That's  a  pretty  song,  to  sing  it  we  all  yearn 

Won't  you  teach  it  to  us?     We'll  try  so  hard  to  learn. 

Stranger —        I  am  very  glad  to  do  so — now  listen  carefully, 

The  words  are  very  easy,  just  repeat  them  after  me. 
(Stranger  speaks  words  of  song,  chorus  repeats,  all  sing 
song  and  dance). 


THE  WIZARDRY  OF  MILK 


CHARACTERS 

The  Wizard — Two  Acrobats — 
Three  Singing  Girls — A  Danc- 
ing Girl — A  Soldier — A  Sailor 
— A  Doctor — A  Nurse — A  Fire- 
man— A  Farmer — A  Farmerette 
— A  Mother  with  a  Baby  Car- 
riage— An  Old  Couple. 


The  costumes  in  this  play  are  easily 
procured  and  few  would  have  to  be 
specially  made. 

The  Old  Man  has  a  gray  cotton  beard 

and  hair.      The  Soldier  wears  a  Boy 

Scout  uniform  and  the  Acrobats  have  jerseys,  long  stockings  and  trunks   made 

from   bloomers.      The   Wizard's    long  cream-white  gown,   cape   and    pointed   hat 

are  decorated  with  black  paper   cows   and   half  moons. 


Properties —  A  huge  cardboard  milk  bottle  in  center  of  stage. 

Scene —  Wizard  enters  and  says: 

"I  am  the  Wizard  of  Milk  and  I  am  going  to  show 
you  something  wonderful.  When  I  clap  my  hands, 
watch  the  milk  bottle!" 

Wizard  claps  hands  and  from  each  side  of  bottle  an  acrobat  comes 
bounding  out.  They  bow.  They  proceed:  (1)  To  turn  somersaults; 
{2)  then  the  wheelbarrow  {one  acrobat  walks  on  hands  while  the  other 
holds  his  feet).  (3)  One  acrobat  takes  up  a  large  ball  marked  "100 
lbs."  and  lifts  it  slowly  with  both  hands,  showing  the  "strain"  on  his 
face,  finally,  holding  it  triumphantly  in  one  hand,  he  tosses  it  to  the 
other.  They  toss  and  catch  it  several  times.  (4)  They  wrestle,  in  the 
midst  of  which  Wizard  calls  out: 

"Stop,  aren't  you  tired?" 

"No,  we  are  not  tired!" 

"Why  aren't  you  tired?" 

(Triumphantly)  "Because  we  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day!" 

They  bow  and  step,  one  to  the  right  and  one  to  the  left  of  the  stage. 

Wizard  claps  again  and  three  girls  come  skipping  out  from  behind 
milk  bottle.  They  bow,  then  sing  two  songs.  When  they  have  finished, 
Wizard  says: 

"How  well  you  sing!     But  aren't  you  tired?" 

"No,  we  are  not  tired.     We  could  sing  all  day  long." 


15 


m%t 


^k 


"Why  aren't  you  tired?" 

"Because  we  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day!" 

The  two  girls  then  stand  beside  acrobat  at  left,  other  girl  beside  one 
at  right  of  stage.  Wizard  claps  hands  again  and  from  behind  milk 
bottle  comes  a  little  girl  who  bows,  then  does  a  little  dance.  When  she 
finishes  Wizard  says: 

"How  beautifully  you  dance!     But  aren't  you  tired? 

"Oh,  no,  I  am  not  tired.    I  drink  at  least  2  glasses  of  milk  a  day." 

Dancer  then  stands  next  to  two  children  at  the  right.  Wizard 
{turning  to  audience): 

"Now  I  am  going  to  show  you  what  you  can  be  when  you  are 
big,  if  you  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day  when  you  are  little." 

The  following  characters  {all  small  children  and  of  about  one  size) 
step  out  from  behind  the  milk  bottle,  each  in  response  to  a  clap  from 
the  Wizard. 

Soldier  {saluting),  Sailor  {saluting),  Doctor  {carrying  bag), 
Nurse,  Fireman,  Farmer,  Farmerette,  Mother  with  Baby  and 
Carriage,  and  finally  old  couple  who  slowly  take  their  places  in 
space  left  between  Nurse  and  Fireman. 

One  by  one  they  step  forward  {with  exception  of  soidier  and  sailor 
and  farmer  and  farmerette  who  speak  in  couples)  and  speak  the  follow- 
ing lines: 

\  {saluting) — "We  must  be  strong  to  serve  our  country." 

Doctor —  "I  must  be  strong  to  keep  people  well." 

Nurse —  "I  must  be  strong  to  help  the  doctor  keep  people 

well." 
"I  must  be  strong  to  save  lives  and  property." 


Fireman — 

Farmer  and  1 

Farmerette    J 

Mother  with  Baby — "I  must  be  strong  so  that  baby  can  be  strong." 


—        "We  must  be  strong  to  raise  crops  to  feed  people." 


16 


Old  Couple —  "We  have  been  strong  and  healthy  all  our  lives." 

All—  "Tell  us  how!" 

Old  Couple —  "By  drinking  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day." 

All  go  out  except  Wizard. 

Wizard — "I  have  something  more  to  show  you.      When  I  clap 
my  hands  watch  what  will  come." 

He  claps  and  a  number  of  children  carrying  health  posters  in  front 
of  them  line  up  across  the  stage. 

Wizard —  "Where  did  you  get  these  fine  pictures?" 

One  child  answers —     "We  had  a  health  drive  in  our  school  and  our 
drawing  teacher,  Miss  Schaefer,  showed  us  how 
to  make  them." 
Wizard  (to  audience) — "I'll   read   them   to   you."       He   reads   such 
health  slogans  as  follows: 

"To  be  a  healthy  and  strong  child,  sleep  nine  or  ten  hours  each 
night.     Do  you?" 

"Milk  makes  her  happy  and  healthy." 

"Every  child  needs  at  least  two  glasses  of  milk  a  day." 

"Mother  gives  me  fruit  instead  of  candy." 

"Eat  three  regular  meals  a  day." 

"Eat  at  the  same  hour  each  day." 

"Oatmeal  made  me  strong." 

"Milk  and  eggs  are  good  for  children." 

"Clean  your  teeth  night  and  morning." 

"Eat  fresh  fruit  every  day." 

"I'm  hungry — bread  and  butter  and  milk  for  me!" 

"Sleep  with  your  windows  open." 

After  he  has  read  them  all,  Wizard  turns  to  audience  and  shaking 
his  finger,  solemnly  says: 

"Follow  these  rules  and  you  will  be  healthy  all  your  days." 


17 


THE  HOUSE  THAT  HEALTH 
BUILT 


SIX  CHILDREN,  EACH  CARRYING  A  CHART 


1. 

Chart 

WITH  A  Pictu 

RE 

of  A  Well-nourished  Girl. 

2. 

ii      ii        it 

"     "  Pint  of  Milk. 

3. 

"      "         " 

"     Cereals. 

4. 

"      "         " 

"     Vegetables. 

5. 

"      "         " 

"     Eggs,  Fish  and  Meat. 

6. 

"      "         " 

"     Fruit. 

The  const ruction  follows  the  style  of  "  The  House  that  Jack  Built."  Each  gi>l 
repeats  her  lines  after  the  girl  following  her  has  said  her  part,  thus;  After  No.  2 
finished,  No.  1  repeats,  using  the  words  written  above  the  words  bracketed.  After 
No.  S,  both  No.  2  and  No.  1  again  repeat  (using  the  changed  words  at  the  beginning): 
this  continues  until  all  have  repeated  at  the  conclusion  of  No.  6's  part.  Then  ail 
recite  together,  at  the  close  of  which  the  food  charts  are  extended  which  conceal  the 
girls.      The  last  message  thus  is  carried  by  the  charts  themselves. 

Number  One —      To  make  (This  is)  the  girl  so  happy  and  gay 
Who  lives  in  the  house  that  health  built. 

Number  Two —     To  eat  with  (This  is)  the  milk — a  pint  a  day — 
That  contains  a  little  fairy  fay. 

Number  Three —  Besides  (These  are)  the  cereals,  full  of  food 
To  make  this  girl  grow  well  and  good. 

Number  Four —    With   (These   are)   the  vegetables,  especially  the 
green 
That  contain  a  magic  called  vitamine. 

Number  Five —     As  well  as  (These  are)  the  eggs,  the  fish  and  the 
meat 
A  little  of  which  each  day  she  may  eat. 

Number  Six —      As  well  as  (These  are)  the  fruits 
She  loves  every  kind ; 
If  served  thrice  a  day 
She  wouldn't  mind. 


A 11- 


If  you  wish  to  be  healthy 
And  happy  and  free, 

Just  remember  my  word 
And  be  sure  to  eat  me. 


18 


THE   PIED  PIPER  OF  HEALTH 


1   PLAY 


CHARACTERS 


Rule  Five 


Pied  Piper 
Seeker  after 

Health 

First  Child 

Second  Child 

Third  Child 

Fourth  Child 

Fifth  Child 

Rule  One 

Rule  Two 

Rule  Three 

Rule  Four 

Rule   Six       —       Rule  Seven       —       Rule   Eight 


Pied  Piper  is  dressed  in  bloomers,  brown  coat  with  white  collar  and  cuffs  and  white 
stockings,  buckled  hat  and  shoes. 

Six  rules  carry  large  cardboard  posters  with  black  silhouettes.     Numbers  3  and  7 
illustrate  these  rules  in  pantomime  but  do  not  have  posters. 

Enter:  1  Pied  Piper  carrying  a  golden  trumpet  raised  close  to 
his  lips,  and  walks  across  the  stage  giving  his  call. 

The  children  dance  in,  in  answer  to  his  call,  and  do  a  simple  dance, 
humming  as  they  do  so. 

The  Seeker  after  Health  breaks  in  on  the  children  and  questions 
them. 

While  she  is  talking  the  rules  skip  in  from  two  sides  of  the  stage 
and  gather  near  the  Seeker,  ready  to  explain  the  "Game  of  Health." 

THE  GAME  OF  HEALTH 
Following  the  Pied  Piper 


Pied  Piper- 


0  come  ye  children  one  and  all. 
Come  answer  ye  unto  my  call. 

1  seek  healthy  boys  and  happy  girls 

In  this  land  where  joy  around  us  whirls, 

So  follow  now  ye  dear  ones, 

I'll  make  you  well  and  strong; 

So  follow  now  ye  dear  ones, 

I'll  teach  you  to  live  long; 

Come  along,  come  along,  come  along. 


19 


FRESH  AIR 


Seeker  after  Health — Hark,  do  you  hear  a  call?  It  seems  to  draw  me 
on  and  on.  I  needs  must  follow  and  learn  from 
whence  it  comes.  And,  see,  the  myriads  of 
others  who,  too,  must  have  heard  it.  What  is 
it  they  all  hear?     Little  one,  why  do  you  follow? 

First  Child —  Why  can  you  not  see  the  Pied  Piper  of  Health 

in  the  distance?  And  do  you  not  hear  what  he 
promises? — Health  and  happiness  and  a  long  life 
of  gladness  if  we  but  follow  where  he  leads. 

Seeker  after  Health — And  what  do  you  hear,  dear  friend?  What  does 
the  Pied  Piper  say  to  you? 

Second  Child —  He  promises  to  teach  us  all  to  play  a  lovely 

game, — the  "Game  of  Health"  he  calls  it. 

Seeker  after  Health — And  in  return  for  his  kindness  what  does  he  ask? 

Third  Child —  Only  that  we  play  fair,  and  obey  the  rules  of 

the  game,  so  that  we  may  honestly  earn  the 
prize  which  to  each  winner  shall  be  awarded. 

Seeker  after  Health — And  the  prize,  is  it  worth  while? 

Fourth  Child —  As  worth  while  as  life  itself,  for  without  it  life 

is  not  worth  living.  It  is  a  healthy  body,  the 
home  of  a  healthy  mind. 


20 


Seeker  after  Health — Then,  the  rules — do  you  think  I  can  learn  to 
obey  them? 

Fifth  Child —  You  can,  if  you  will,  but  it  will  sometimes  seem 

a  little  hard.     And  unless  you  really  want  the 
prize  you  will  be  tempted  to  give  up. 

Seeker  after  Health — So  many  of  you  have  learned  them,  I  shall  try 
too.     What  are  the  rules? 


First  Rule — 


Rule  Two — 


Rule  Three — 


Rule  Four — 


Rule  Five- 


I  am  Rule  1.  I  see  by  this  chart  that  you  are 
{child  taking  part  gives  weight,  height  of  " Seeker 
after  Health"  and  average  weight  for  height  and 

age)  .. .inches  tall  and  weigh  only pounds. 

You  should  weigh  You  must  eat  prop- 
erly to  gain  the  needed  weight.  To  do  this  you 
must  drink  milk,  as  much  milk  as  possible,  at 
least  2  glasses  daily.  Drink  no  coffee  or  tea. 
Eat  a  cereal  for  breakfast.  Eat  whole  wheat 
bread,  some  green  vegetables  and  fruit,  and 
drink  at  least  four  glasses  of  water  each  day. 
These  and  ten  hours  of  sleep  with  windows  wide 
open  will  soon  bring  your  weight  up  to  what  it 
should  be. 

And  I  must  ask  you  to  be  clean, — clean  in  body, 
mind  and  clothes, — for  cleanliness  is  next  to 
godliness.  Bathe  with  plenty  of  hot  water  and 
soap  at  least  twice  a  week.  Hands,  face,  neck 
and  finger  nails  washed  morn  and  night  and 
teeth  brushed  at  least  twice  daily. 

Good  posture  I  must  ask. — A  straight  line  from 
head  to  toe. — Standing,  sitting,  keep  erect. 

Cheerfulness  is  what  I  teach.  Get  up  smiling, 
stay  up  smiling,  and  smile  and  smile  all  day,  for 
"If  you  but  smile,  another  smiles  and  then 
there's  miles  and  miles  of  smiles,  and  life's  worth 
while,  if  you  but  smile." 

Of  sun  and  air  just  take  your  share.  There  is 
plenty  and  to  spare.  Clear  in  lung,  and  clear 
in  mind,  for  air  is  health,  and  health  is  life's  find. 


21 


Rule  Six —  Exercise  will  make  you  strong,  so  to  the  gymna- 

sium you  should  go,  and  watch  your  muscles 
harder  grow,  and  long,  happy  walks  on  sunny 
streets  will  make  the  warm  blood  through  all 
your  veins  creep. 

Rule  Seven —  Eyes  and  nose,  throat  and  teeth,  if  neglected 

will  bring  defeat.  So  give  them  care  and  well 
you'll  fare,  in  the  "Game  of  Health"  wherein 
you  compete. 

Rule  Eight —  And  the  last  I  wish  to  say:    That  though  you 

sure  must  work  away,  You  must  never  forget 
your  share  of  play.  Work  when  you  work, 
Play  when  you  play,  All  of  just  one,  ne'er  can 
be  made  to  pay. 

Seeker  after  Health — I  thank  you  one,  I  thank  you  all, 

And  soon  I  hope  when  my  work  is  done 
I'll  answer  to  your  dear  Piper's  call. 

Pied  Piper —  Come  along!     Come  along!     Come  along! 


22 


THE  VALUE  OF  MILK 


In  the  contests  held  in  connection  with  the  Milk  and  Child  Health 
Campaign  classes  from  our  public  schools  were  invited  to  give  some 
demonstration  which  would  show  the  value  of  milk.  Four  schools 
competed  each  day  and  a  prize  of  twenty  dollars  in  gold  was  given 
to  that  school  giving  the  best  presentation  of  this  subject. 

The  children  of  the  School  for  the  Deaf  won  one  of  these  prizes. 
These  children  are  either  totally  or  partially  deaf,  but  they  are 
taught  to  read  the  lips  and  to  speak.  This  school  is  also  a  Trade 
School  and  prepares  these  pupils  for  positions  after  they  are  grad- 
uated. Everything  shown  in  their  demonstration  was  made  by  the 
pupils,  being  part  of  their  vocational  work. 

A  large  milk  bottle,  25  inches  high,  with  a  diameter  at  the  base 
of  12  inches  and  at  the  neck  of  6  inches,  was  made  in  6  sections. 
On  each  section  the  boys  lettered  one  word  in  the  following  order, 
beginning  at  the  base — Protein — Lime — Sugar — Fat — Vitamines  (this 
was  divided  with  one-third  on  each  section). 

As  an  introduction  the  first  child  said: 

"We  are  going  to  tell  you  about  the  value  of  milk.  Milk  has 
a  power  bej^ond  all  other  foods  to  build  strong  bodies  for  boys  and 
girls.  Every  time  you  drink  a  glass  of  milk  you  are  really  building 
up  your  body." 

Then  a  boy  placed  the  first  section  on  a  table,  saying: 

"Protein  builds  muscle  and  brings  you  energy  and  vitality  for 
work  and  play.  You  find  it  in  the  thick  curd  of  sour  milk  and  in 
cheese.  You  also  find  it  in  meat,  but  it  is  better  in  milk  bottles 
than  in  meat." 

Third  child,  placing  second  section  on  top  of  first: 

"Lime,  or  calcium,  helps  to  build  strong  bones  and  firm  white  teeth." 

Fourth  child,  placing  third  section  in  place: 

"If  you  would  have  warmth  for  your  body  you  must  have  sugar. 
This  gives  you  the  energy  to  work  and  to  play." 

Fifth  child,  placing  fourth  section  in  place : 

"Fat  is  another  helper  who  makes  both  warmth  and  energy." 

Sixth  child,  placing  the  small  sections  forming  the  neck  of  the 
bottle  in  place: 

"There  are  3  builders  who  work  as  if  by  magic.  They  have  been 
called  the  Vitamines  and  we  know  little  about  them  except  that  they 
have  the  magic  power  of  making  your  bodies  grow. 

The  next  child  places  a  fitted  cover  of  white  oilcloth  over  all  the 
sections,  thus  making  it  resemble  a  bottle  of  milk.      On  the  top 

23 


was  placed  a  paper  cap  like  those  on  a  Grade  A  bottle  with  a  wire 
band  holding  it  in  place.  On  the  front  of  the  bottle  the  boys  had 
lettered  "Drink  at  Least  a  Pint  of  Milk  Every  Day." 

This  child  said,  as  she  fitted  the  cover: 

"In. order  that  these  helpful  little  builders  may  give  you  their 
full  share  of  work  you  must  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  every  day. 
You  may  drink  this  from  a  glass  or  take  it  in  cocoa,  creamed  vege- 
tables, or  puddings." 

The  next  child  placed  to  the  right  of  the  bottle  a  raffia  basket 
holding  spinach,  potatoes,  carrots,  beets,  etc.,  all  made  of  paper 
by  the  younger  children  in  the  school.  (They  are  the  early  steps 
in  hand  work,  leading  to  favor-making  and  flower-work.) 

He  said:  "But  to  do  their  best  work  these  milk  builders  need 
to  work  side  by  side  with  other  workmen,  one  of  whom  is  called 
Iron  who  helps  to  build  red  blood.  You  can  secure  his  services  by 
eating  plenty  of  green  vegetables  and  fruits.  You  will  also  find 
iron  in  eggs  and  meat." 

The  next  child  placed  a  similar  basket  to  the  left  of  the  bottle,  this 
basket  containing  paper  fruits — apples,  oranges,  grapes,  etc.    She  said : 

"But  you  will  have  to  have  some  workmen  to  keep  your  house 
in  order  while  all  these  builders  are  at  work.  For  this  you  call 
upon  the  Laxative  Brothers  by  eating  fruit  and  green  vegetables 
so  that  your  intestines  and  kidneys  may  be  kept  clean  and  active." 

A  simple  poster  representing  a  loaf  of  bread  and  a  bowl  of  cereal, 
drawn  by  a  pupil,  was  then  placed  behind  the  exhibit,  and  the  next 
child  said: 

"Because  active  boys  and  girls  need  so  much  energy,  you  must 
further  help  the  builders  by  eating  plenty  of  bread  and  cereals." 

The  exhibit  was  then  complete. 

Another  boy  said: 

"If  you  let  all  these  helpful  little  fellows  do  your  work,  you  will 
have  a  strong  active  body,  and  you  will  be  up  to  weight  for  your 
height  and  age." 

Then  the  children  recited  together: 

"So — in  our  school  the  children  all  say,  'We  will  drink  milk 
every  day.'     Hurrah  for  milk!     Hurrah  for  Health!" 

A  boy  then  said:  "We  want  to  say  that  everything  that  we  have 
shown  here  today  was  made  in  our  school.  The  boys  in  our  shop 
made  the  bottle.  The  boys  in  the  lettering  class  painted  the  let- 
ters. A  little  boy  made  the  poster  and  the  younger  children  made 
the  fruits  and  vegetables." 

A  girl  said:  "And  let  me  add,  in  our  school  we  drink  50  quarts 
of  milk  every  day,  during  school  hours." 

24 


THE  KING  OF  FOODS 


Child — 


Oh,  dear,  I  am  so  very  tired, 

I  feel  so  frail  and  weak; 
I  never  want  to  run  and  play, 

But  couch  or  bed  I  seek. 
How  can  those  children  run  about, 

As  if  they  trod  on  air? 
I'd  love  to  be  as  free  as  they 

From  worry  and  from  care. 
Oh!  children!  come  and  talk  with  me; 

Tell  me  the  secret  sweet, 
That  makes  you  dance  so  joyously, 

All  up  and  down  the  street. 


All— 


Oh,  we  are  merry  builders; 

We're  happy  all  the  day, 
Because  we  know  that  as  we  build, 

We're  strong  for  work  or  play. 


Child — 


Tell  me,  I  beg,  what  is't  you  build? 

I  see  no  tools  about; 
Why  do  you  talk  of  building, 

When  you  play  and  run  and  shout? 


All- 


Hal  Ha!  but  you  are  funny, 

You  do  not  understand; 
We  build  up  healthy  bodies; 

Train  mind,  and  heart,  and  hand. 


25 


All —  Come,  let  us  call  our  carpenters 

To  tell  their  story  here : 
We'll  charm  this  little  brother, 
And  bring  him  joy  and  cheer. 

All —  Come,  Protein,  show  the  muscle 

That  comes  by  your  good  care ; 
Tell  little  white-face  brother, 
How  he  may  find  his  share. 

Protein —  I  dwell  in  lots  of  dainties 

And  goodies  that  you  eat ; 
I  make  your  play  more  joyous, 

Put  springs  beneath  your  feet. 
I  build  the  pretty  muscles 

That  clothe  your  body  fair; 
And  here  is  Lime,  my  brother, 

Who  helps  to  make  bones  and  teeth  with  care. 

Lime —  Oh,  here  comes  jolly  Fatty! 

He  keeps  you  warm  and  glad; 
He  laughs  with  glee  to  see  cheeks  swell ; 
But  when  they're  thin,  he's  sad. 

He  has  a  twin  called  Sugar, 

Oh,  isn't  she  most  sweet? 
There  never  yet  was  born  a  boy 

Who  would  refuse  such  treat. 

Fat —  The  Magic  Triplets  are  coming, 

They  have  such  funny  names; 
The  little  Vitamines,  they  are; 
They  know  some  wondrous  games. 

Child —  I'm  very  glad  to  see  you  all; 

Now  tell  me  what  to  do, 
So  I  may  run  and  play  and  grow, 
As  other  children  do. 

All —  What  do  you  eat?     What  do  you  drink? 

And  how  much  do  you  weigh? 
How  tall  are  you?     How  old  are  you? 
Listen  to  what  we  say. 

26 


Sugar — 


Do  you  eat  fruit  and  bread  and  grains? 

Or  would  you  pie  and  cake? 
You  never,  never  will  grow  strong 

Unless  good  foods  you  take. 


Vitamine  Triplets — You  must  not  let  your  body  starve 
For  foods  these  builders  need; 
But  you  must  choose  the  proper  things, 
And  then  they'll  work  with  speed. 


All- 


All- 


Child — 


Ail- 


Now,  let  us  show  the  King  of  Foods ! 

Wherever  he  reigns  is  health; 
He  wears  no  crown  of  gold  or  gems, 

But  he  brings  the  gift  of  health. 

He  carries  Iron,  and  Sugar,  and  Fat, 

And  mighty  Protein,  too, 
And  Lime  for  bones,  and  Vitamines, 

Will  you  let  him  work  for  you? 

I  thank  you,  friends,  for  your  kind  help; 

I'll  go  to  work  this  day, 
To  live  with  this  kind  monarch 

And  all  his  rules  obey. 

Song 
Here's  to  good  pure  milk, 

Drink  it  down! 
Here's  to  good  pure  milk, 

Drink  it  down! 
Here's  to  Milk,  the  King, 

Who  will  health  and  happiness  bring, 
Drink  it  down,  drink  it  down,  drink  it  down, 
down,  down. 


THE  CARPENTERS'  UNION 


CHARACTERS 


Lily  White  (a  thin  little 
girl)  —  Rosie  Maid  (a 
plump  little  girl) — Pro- 
tein —  Lime  —  Fat  — 
Sugar  —  The  Vitamine 
Triplets  — Iron- 
Chorus  of  8  Little 
Girls  —  Carpenters  in 
Overalls. 


Little  girls  of  chorus  are 
playing  carousel  game — 
usual   words   except  for  following 


1st  Little  Girl— 
2nd  Little  Girl- 
Chorus — 
Lily — 


3rd  Little  Girl- 


Ha,  ha,  ha!    Happy  are  we! 
Strong  and  well,  as  you  can  see! 
Ha,  ha,  ha!     Happy  are  we! 
Strong  and  well,  as  we  can  be! 
{Enter  Lily  White) 

Here  comes  Lily  White.     How  pale  she  looks ! 

Come  on,  and  play  with  us,  Lily. 

Come  on,  Lily.     Come  and  play! 

You  know  I'd  love  to  sing  and  play, 

But  I  feel  tired  out  today. 

Why  after  school,  it  seems  to  me, 

I'm  just  as  weary  as  can  be. 

The  other  children  all  have  fun, 

And  skip  and  jump  and  dance  and  run, 

But  mother  says  she  thinks  it  best 

For  pale,  thin  girls  like  me,  to  rest. 

{Enter  Rosie) 


Oh,  here  comes  Rosie  Maid, 
she  looks! 


How  well  and  strong 


28 


Chorus — 


(To  tune  of  Water  Wild  Flower) 

Doctor,  doctor,  can  you  tell 

What  will  make  poor  Lily  well? 

She  looks  sick,  'most  ready  to  die, 

And  that  would  make  her  friends  all  cry. 


Rosie — 


She  doesn't  need  the  doctor, 
carpenters. 


She  just  needs  the 


Chorus  (amazed) — The  carpenters! 


Rosie- 


Lily — 
Carpenters — 

1st  Carpenter — 
2nd  Carpenter — 

3rd  Carpenter — 
4th  Carpenter — 


Why,  yes,  the  carpenters.      You  know — the  kind 

that  build  us  up. 
Of  course  you  know  a  good  strong  frame 
Is  needed  in  life's  busy  game. 
A  firm  foundation  of  good  health 
Is  better  far  than  fame  or  wealth ; 
And  iron  blood  and  nerves  of  steel — 
How  well  they  make  a  person  feel ! 
These  mansions  that  we  call  "ourselves" 
Are  just  the  work  of  a  band  of  elves. 

Oh,  dear,  oh,  dear,  I'd  love  to  see 

The  band  of  elves.     Where  can  they  be? 

(Enter  the  carpenters) 

We're  glad  to  come  when  children  call 
We're  at  your  service,  one  and  all. 
We're  Nature's  workmen.    We've  a  guild 
Whose  work  it  is  good  health  to  build. 

I'm  Protein.     You've  heard  my  name, 
And  muscle-building  is  my  game. 

My  name  is  Lime.     The  dentist  knows 
Where  all  my  expert  building  goes; 
I  build  strong  teeth  that  never  ache 
And  bones  too  firm  to  bend  or  break. 

I'm  Fat,  as  you  can  plainly  see, 
I  provide  warmth  and  energy. 

I'm  Sugar.     Don't  you  think  I'm  sweet? 
I,  too,  give  energy  and  heat. 


29 


5th  Carpcnla- 


6th,  7th  and  8th 

Carpenters — 


Lily — 

Carpenters 
(together) — 


Lily — 
Sugar — 
Protein— 
Triplets- 
Fat— 


I'm  Iron,  and  from  head  to  toe 

My  good  strong  work  is  felt  you  know. 

I  build  a  wall  against  disease, 

I  won't  let  toes  or  ringers  freeze. 

We  are  the  brothers  Vitamines, 
We're  very  merry  lively  triplets; 
We  do  our  work  with  magic  stealth 
And  lay  the  cornerstone  of  health. 

Oh,  won't  you  come  and  work  for  me? 
I  need  you  very  much,  you  see. 

We  cannot  do  you  any  good, 
Unless  you  eat  substantial  food. 

I'm  sure  I  eat  good  food  for  dinner, 
And  yet  each  day  I'm  growing  thinner. 

I'm  found  in  candy,  cake,  and  pie, 
But  /  can't  make  you  well — not  I ! 

I'm  found  in  meat  and  eggs  and  fish, 
But  /  can't  do  all  that  you  wish. 

We're  found  in  lettuce  and  many  other  foods; 
But  then  we  alone  cannot  build  up  fat. 

I'll  make  you  fat,  but  muscle,  bone, 
And  blood  I  cannot  build  alone. 


Iron- 


Carpenters 
(together)- 


But  if  you  want  us  all  to  build, 
Why  then,  my  dear,  we  have  a  guild. 
We've  formed  a  union  strange  to  say, 
That  works  for  you  all  night  and  day. 

Dear  child,  if  you'd  be  well  and  strong, 

Why,  to  the  dairy  run  along! 

There's  something  pure,  and  sweet,  and  white 

Will  make  you  rosy,  plump  and  bright. 

Our  union's  name  we  need  not  say, 

You'll  know  it  when  we  stand  this  way! 

(Children  in  form  of  the  letters  M-I-L-K.) 


3° 


*>W  «L. 


Rosie- 


Yes,  Lily,  drink  at  least  a  pint  a  day, 
Then  you'll  be  strong  and  well  and  gay. 
(Exeunt,   skipping,   while  Chorus  sings,  uHa,  Ha, 
Ha!     Happy  are  we,"  etc.) 


3i 


OUR  FRIEND  MILK 


of  unhappy  children. 


Happy  children  enter,  dancing  and  romping.  They 
stop  suddenly  as  A  speaks.  Group  of  unhappy 
children   sit  in   despondent  attitudes. 

A—  My  mother  says  I  can't  use  my 
roller  skates  any  more.  She  is 
tired  of  my  breaking  my  bones 
when  I  fall  down.  (.4  sits,  arm 
bandaged,  and  in  a  sling.) 

Milk —  Won't  you   let  me  help  you  dear, 

I  have  lime  to  build  your  bones 

so  strong  that  they  will  never  snap 

again.      (Milk  stands  back  of  group 

She  extends  entreating  arms.) 


Milk- 


Are  you  speaking  to  me  Milk?  If  so,  do  not  waste 
your  breath.  I  don't  like  the  way  you  taste. 
(Milk  looks  rebuffed.) 

Oh,  who  cares  for  roller  skates  anyway?  That  is 
nothing  to  my  troubles;  the  boys  won't  have  me 
on  the  team.  They  say  I  am  too  small  and  can't 
throw  the  ball  far  enough.  (B,  small  boy,  sits 
moodily  with  hands  in  pockets,  looking  disconsolate.) 

Too  small!  Oh,  now  I  can  help!  Let  me  help 
you  to  grow  and,  if  you  will  take  me  with  plenty 
of  brown  bread,  my  cream  and  sugar  will  give  you 
all  the  strength  you  want  to  throw  balls.  (Milk 
looks  eager  and  hopeful.) 


B- 


No  baby  foods  for  me.      I  am  13  years  old. 
will  be  a  man  in  a  few  years. 


I 


C— 


A  man!      I  don't  like  you  boys  anyway.      You 
call  me  "Hello,  Paleface"  and  I  don't  like  it. 


Milk- 


Paleface!  Please  let  me  be  your  friend.  Take  me 
with  plenty  of  green  vegetables  and  we  will  paint 
your  cheeks  red. 


32 


C —  White  and  green  make  red.     Tell  me  another. 

D —  I  think  this  whole  world  aches  with  this  old  tooth. 

(D  sits  with  face  tied  up.) 

Milk —  (Each  time  looks  eager  at  a  new  chance  to  help  and 

then  is  disappointed).  Dear  child,  your  bones  are 
so  eager  to  grow  they  are  stealing  mineral  from 
your  teeth.     Take  my  mineral. 

D —  Bones  stealing  from  teeth.    Baby  talk.    Why  don't 

you  say  Rock-a-bye  Baby  on  the  tree  top? 

E —  (Sneezes)  I  have  had  influenza  and  bronchitis  and 

Oh  my,  now  I  am  getting  something  else. 

Milk —  Milk  and  colds  are  enemies. 

E —  Yes,  but  both  are  my  enemies. 

F —  Oh,  can't  everybody  stop  talking.    I  am  so  sleepy. 

Every  time  I  went  to  sleep  last  night  I  dreamed  a 
bull  was  chasing  me  or  that  I  was  falling  down  a 
deep  well. 

Milk —  But  I  could  build  your  nerves  so  strong  that  your 

sleep  would  be  a  beautiful  trip  to  fairyland.  Give 
up  that  dreadful  tea  and  coffee  and  take  me. 

F —  Give  up  tea  and  coffee?      Why   the    only    time 

I  feel  like  doing  anything  is  just  after  taking 
a  good  strong  cup  of  tea  or  coffee.  (Milk  looks 
hopeless.) 

1st  H.  C. —  I  heard  a  grown-up  say,  "Some  people  won't  believe 

a  stone  wall  is  hard  until  they  bump  their  head 
against  it."     Now  I  know  what  they  mean. 

2nd  H.  C. —  Don't  you  unhappy  children  want  to  know  why 

we  are  happy  children?  Why  we  are  jumping  and 
laughing  and  running  all  the  time  while  you  sit 
there  and  say  what  you  like  and  don't  like  and 
what  you  cannot  do? 

33 


Chorus  II.  C. —     We  found  there  were  fairies  in  milk.    Yes,  called 
vitamines. 

Srd  H.  C. —  And  these  fairies  have  made  us  grow  and   our 

teeth  sound  and  our  cheeks  red  and  we  are  so 
strong  we  never  are  tired. 

All  II.  C. —  But  it  makes  us  sad  that  you  won't  play  with  us. 

B —  (reluctantly)  Well,  I  don't  know.     It  is  not  much 

fun  sitting  here  looking  at  you  play.  I  am  going 
to  see  if  what  Milk  says  is  true. 

All,  A  to  F —        Are  you?     (Strenuously.) 

A —  (slowly)  I  wonder  if  mother  has  put  my  skates  away 

already? 

C —  (Looks  in  looking  glass,  rubs  cheeks)  I  know  I  would 

be  pretty  if  my  cheeks  were  red. 

D —  (Determinedly)  Me  for  the  dentist  and  milk,  too. 

E —  Tea  and  coffee  taste  horrid  anyway. 

F —  I  do  know  enough  to  wear  a  warm  coat  on  a  cold 

day  and  surely  I  ought  to  know  enough  to  drink 
milk  if  it  will  keep  me  from  catching  these  horrid 
colds. 

Milk —  (Stands  very  happy  as  group  forms  around  her  look- 

ing eagerly  up  at  her)  Trust  me,  a  pint  at  least  a 
day. 

All,  A  to  F —        Trust  us. 

Happy —  Won't  it  be  fun  when  we  have  them  to  play  with  us? 


34 


THE  ROAD  TO  HEALTH 

CAST 

Mrs.  Jackson A  widow      Mrs.  King A  friend 

Frank Her  son      Frances  King.  . .  Mrs.  King's  daughter 

Mollie  1 ner  daughters       Miss  Brooks Frank's  teacher 

Katie    j 

ACT  I 

A  Room  in  Mr,s.  Jackson's  House  ■ — ■  Time — Afternoon. 
Mrs.  Jajckson  sewing        —        Mollie  lying  on  sofa — ill. 

Mrs.  J. —  {going  to  sofa)  Are  you  feeling  better,  dear? 

M. —  No,  not  much,  mother. 

Mrs.  J. —  Well,  I  think  we  better  have  the  doctor,  although  I  don't 
know  how  I  can  pay  him. 

M. —  (Crying)  No,  I  don't  want  the  doctor. 

Mrs.  J. —  Well,  don't  cry.  (Enter  Katie,  unobserved,  very  downcast) 
Why,  Katie,  I  didn't  see  you  come  in.  What's  the  mat- 
ter, dear? 

K. —  Oh,  mother,  my  report  card,  it's  so  poor.     I  tried  so  hard 

this  month,  but  got  only  C  in  proficiency. 

Mrs.  J. —  Dear,  dear,  dear,  are  you  sure  you  tried  hard? 

K. —  Yes,  mother. 

Mrs.  J. —  I  wonder  where  Frank  is. 

K. —  Oh,  he  has  a  poor  card,  too. 

Mrs.  J. —  How  do  you  know? 

K. —  I  know  a  girl  in  his  class.      She  told  me.    Oh,  mother,  I 

nearly  forgot.  Mollie's  teacher  called  me  in  today  and 
asked  why  Mollie  isn't  in  school.  She  says  that  if  she 
stays  out  very  much  more  she  can't  get  promoted.  I  don't 
think  any  of  us  will  be  promoted  this  term.  (K.  and  M.  cry.) 

35 


Mrs.  J. —  Dear,  dear,  dear.  (A  knock  at  the  door.)  Come  in.  {En- 
ter Mrs.  King  and  Frances.) 

Mrs.  J. —  Oh,  come  in  Mrs.  King.  How  do  you  do?  (To  Frances.) 
Sit  down.     (Indicating  scats  for  both  Mrs.  K.  and  F.) 

Mrs.  K. — We  are  all  well,  thank  you,  how  are  you? 

Mrs.  J. —  Not  very  well;  Mollie,  as  you  see,  is  sick,  and  I  have  just 
had  discouraging  reports  from  school.  How  are  you  get- 
ting along,  my  dear?    (To  Frances.) 

F. —  Oh,  fine,  I  got  A-A-A  on  my  report  card  today. 

Mrs.  J. —  That's  good  and  you  look  so  well,  too.  I  wish  my  child- 
ren looked  well. 

M. —  I  want  a  drink,  mother.     (Mrs.  J  starts  to  get  it.) 

Mrs.  K. — Let  Frances  get  it  for  her,  Mrs.  Jackson. 

(Frances  gets  glass  of  water.     Molly  pushes  it  away.) 

M. —  I  don't  want  water,  I  want  coffee. 

Mrs.  J. —  All  right,  dear,  I'll  get  it  for  you. 

Mrs.  K. — Coffee!  Surely,  Mrs.  Jackson,  you  aren't  going  to  give 
that  child  coflee? 

Mrs.  J. —  Oh,  yes,  she  always  drinks  coffee. 

Mrs.  K. — No  wonder  she's  sick!  Why,  coffee  isn't  fit  for  any  child 
to  drink.  My  advice  to  you  is  to  give  her  a  drink  of  milk. 
She  ought  to  have  at  least  a  pint  a  day. 

Mrs.  J. —  Milk  is  so  expensive.  I  don't  feel  I  can  afford  it.  Every- 
thing is  so  expensive.  If  Frank  didn't  help  me  a  little 
by  working  for  Mr.  Adams,  the  grocer,  I  don't  know 
how  I  should  get  along.  Besides,  my  children  don't 
like   milk. 

F. —  I  didn't  like  it  very  much  at  first,  either,  but  mother  kept 

telling  me  if  I  wanted  to  have  a  big,  strong  body  and  a 

36 


big,  strong  brain,  I  must  drink  milk.     Now,  I  love  it  and 
wouldn't  give  it  up  for  anything. 
{Enter  Frank,  very  downcast.) 

Mrs.  J. —  Oh,  here's  Frank.  Well,  Frank,  can't  you  say  "How-do- 
you-do,  Mrs.  King?" 

F. —  How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  King?    Hullo,  Frances.     (To  Mrs. 

J.)     Mother,  I  might  as  well  tell  you  now,  I  got  a  bad 
report  from  school. 

Mrs.  J. —  So  Katie  told  me. 

F. —  And  here  is  something  that  is  still  worse.     Mr.  Adams  has 

turned  me  off.    He  says  he  can't  put  up  with  me  any  longer. 

Mrs.  J. —  But,  what  did  you  do  Frank? 

F. —  Mother,  I  can't  carry  those  baskets  of  groceries.     My 

arm  gives  out.     I  have  to  sit  down  and  rest  all  the  time. 
Mr.  Adams  says  I  am  worthless. 

Mrs.  J. —  Now,  Frank,  you  could  carry  those  baskets  just  as  well 
as  not.    The  idea  of  a  big  boy  like  you — 

Mrs.  K. — (Interrupting)  Wait  a  minute,  Mrs.  Jackson,  I  think  I  see 
what  is  the  matter.  All  of  your  children  are  too  thin  and 
pale  and  weak.  I  have  often  wanted  to  talk  to  you  about 
it.  Now,  I  am  going  to  do  so.  Mrs.  Jackson,  I  don't 
believe  you  feed  your  children  right. 

Mrs.  J. —  Why,  Mrs.  King,  the  idea !  Certainly,  I  feed  my  children 
right. 

Mrs.  K. — Now,  don't  be  angry.  Let's  look  at  this  matter  in  the 
right  way,  Mrs.  Jackson.  Here  you  have  three  nice 
children,  yet  they  are  stupid  in  school. 

M . —  I  get  so  tired  that  I  can't  study,  so  I  get  behind  my  class. 

K.—  So  do  I. 

Mrs.  K—  Here's  Frank,  a  boy  of  14— too  weak  to  carry  a  basket  of 
groceries  upstairs.      Why  should  the  children  be  stupid? 

37 


Why  should  Frank  be  weaker  than  other  boys?  I  tell 
you,  Mrs.  Jackson,  they  don't  get  the  right  kind  of  food. 
Now,  I  think  I  can  help  you  if  you  will  let  me.  It  will 
do  no  harm  anyway.      Come  now,  let's  try,  will  you? 

Mrs.  J. —  Perhaps,  but  I  don't  think  it's  that.  I  am  a  good  mother, 
Airs.  King,  and  I  wouldn't  give  my  children  poor  food  for 
anything. 

Mrs.  K. — I  know  you're  a  good  mother — it's  just  that  you  don't 
know  how  to  feed  your  family.  That's  all.  Now,  let's 
begin.  First,  what  did  the  children  eat  for  breakfast  this 
morning? 

Mrs.  J. —  Why,  we  each  had  a  hot  roll  and  some  coffee. 

M. —  I  couldn't  eat  any  rolls;   I  just  drank  some  coffee. 

Mrs.  K. — Now,  Mrs.  Jackson,  do  you  know  that  children  have  to 
work  and  work  hard  in  school?  Do  you  know  that  any- 
one who  works  hard  must  have  good  food  and  enough  of 
it?  Children  have  to  work  33^  hours  in  school  every 
morning.  If  they  don't  have  enough  food  for  breakfast 
and  the  right  kind  of  food,  their  bodies  can't  do  the  work 
the  teacher  wants  them  to  do,  and  if  the  body  can't  work 
the  brain  can't  either. 

Mrs.  J. —  Well,  my  children  are  satisfied  with  bread  and  coffee  and — 

Mrs.  K. — Mrs.  Jackson,  excuse  me  for  interrupting  you,  but  do  you 
know  just  what  coffee  does  to  children's  bodies? 

K. —  I  know,  my  teacher  says  coffee  has  something  in  it  very 

bad  for  children.  She  says  it  makes  them  thin  and  pale 
and  nervous  or  something. 

Mrs.  K. — Right  Katie.  Coffee  really  is  poisonous  to  some  people, 
and  doesn't  do  one  thing  to  help  the  body  get  strong. 
Now,  why  not  give  the  children  something  to  make  their 
bodies  strong  instead  of  weak?  Milk,  for  instance.  Katie 
and  Mollie  should  each  drink  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day. 
Frank  should  have  a  pint  and  you  should  have  a  cupful 
yourself.     That's  about  four  pints. 

38 


Mrs.  J. —  And  I  only  buy  a  pint  a  day.  I  am  afraid  the  children 
won't  drink  it  and  it  will  be  wasted. 

Mrs.  K. — Well,  you  can  put  it  in  the  food — in  cocoa,  for  instance, 
and,  give  them  cereal  in  the  morning  with  milk  on  it. 

Mrs.  J. —  I  am  afraid  the  children  won't  eat  cereal. 

Mrs.  K. — Come  here,  Katie  and  Frank  and  Mollie.  You  love  your 
mother,  don't  you? 

Children — Sure  we  do. 

Mrs.  K. — And  want  to  keep  her  from  worry,  and  make  her  happy? 

Children — Sure  we  do. 

Mrs.  K. — Well,  then,  will  you  drink  a  cup  of  cocoa  and  eat  a  saucer 
of  oatmeal  every  morning  and  bring  a  happy  smile  to 
your  mother's  face? 

Children — Sure  we  will. 

Mrs.  K. — There,  Mrs.  Jackson,  your  children  are  willing.  Will  you 
begin  tomorrow  morning? 

Mrs.  J. —  I  guess  I'll  have  to  answer  as  my  children  did  and  say 
"Sure  I  will." 

Mrs.  K. — Will  you  let  me  help  you  get  your  breakfast  tomorrow 
morning  and  also  buy  the  things? 

Mrs.  J. —  Oh,  thank  you,  Mrs.  King,  I  shall  be  very  glad  of  your 
help. 

Mrs.  K. — Suppose  we  go  now  and  buy  some  oatmeal,  cocoa  and 
brown  bread  for  tomorrow. 

Mrs.  J. —  All  right — let's  all  go.  Mollie  ought  to  have  a  little  air — 
she's  been  in  the  house  all  day. 

Mrs.  K. — Yes,  indeed,  fresh  air  and  exercise  are  just  as  necessary 
as  good  food.     {All  go  out.) 

39 


ACT  II 


Mrs.  Jackson's  dining-room       —       Time — Next  morning. 
Mrs.  King  and  Mrs.  Jackson  putting  things   on  the  table. 


Mrs.  J  —  It's  very  kind  of  you  to  come  in  and  help  me  this  morn- 
ing, Mrs.  King. 

Mrs.  K. — Oh,  that's  all  right.  I  am  anxious  to  see  how  the  child- 
ren act. 

Mrs.  J. —  So  am  I.     Come  children,  breakfast  is  ready. 
(Children  come  in  and  sit  down  at  table.) 

M. —  I  want  to  sit  by  mother,  Katie. 

A'.—  Oh,  all  right. 

F. —  Oh,  sit  down  and  eat  your  breakfast.     Girls  are  always 

quarreling. 

Mrs.  J. —  Won't  you  sit  down  with  us,  Mrs.  King? 

Mrs.  K. — No  thank  you,  I  can  only  stay  for  a  few  minutes. 
(Children  begin  to  eat.) 

Airs.  K. — Mrs.  Jackson,  I  wish  you  would  let  me  help  you  get  your 
dinner  and  your  supper  today,  will  you?  You  have  only 
used  up  a  part  of  your  milk.  Perhaps  I  could  show  you 
some  way  to  use  milk  in  food. 

Mrs.  J. —  Why,  yes,  if  you  can  spare  the  time. 

Mrs.  K. — I  think  I  could  tell  you  just  what  you  ought  to 
have  for  your  meals.  We  could  go  marketing  together. 
You  know,  the  body  needs  certain  kinds  of  food 
every   day. 

K. —  (Interrupting)   I  know,  the  cooking  teacher  tells  us  we 

should  eat  cereals  like  oatmeal,  cornmeal,  and  rice,  bread 
and  butter,  eggs,  all  kinds  of  fat,  and  drink  milk  as  well. 
Other  foods  like  fish,  dried  beans,  peas,  and  a  very  little 
meat,  help  to  vary  our  diet. 

40 


Mrs.  K. — Yes,  and  I  hope  she  told  you  that  fruits  and  vegetables 
must  be  eaten  every  day,  in  order  to  help  keep  the  blood 
right  and  the  body  in  good  condition. 

F. —  Say,  mother,  I  didn't  know  oatmeal  tasted  like  this — it's 

good.     Tomorrow  morning  I'll  eat  twice  as  much. 

K. —  I  like  mine,  too. 

M. —  I  don't  like  mine  very  much,  but  I'll  eat  it  to  please 

mother. 

Mrs  J.  and 

Mrs.  K. — That's  a  good  girl. 

F. —  (Beginning   to  eat  his   bread   and  drink   his  cocoa.)    Say, 

mother,  I  think  this  is  a  good  breakfast. 

Mrs.  J. —  I  think  so,  too,  son.  Now,  let's  all  say  "Thank  you"  to 
Mrs.  King  for  helping  us. 

All—         Thank  you,  Mrs.  King. 

Mrs.  K. — I  don't  want  any  thanks;  I  just  want  to  see  you  all  well 
and  happy.     Now,  I  must  go.    Good-bye. 

All —         Good-bye. 


ACT  III 

Three  months  later     —    A  room  in  Mrs.  Jackson's  house. 
Time — Afternoon  - —  Mrs.  Jackson  alone  sewing. 

(Knock  at  the  door.) 
Mrs.  J. —  Come  in.      (Enter  Miss  Brooks.) 

Miss  B. —  Is  this  Mrs.  Jackson? 

Mrs.  J. —  Yes,  it  is. 

Imj  B. —  Well,  I  am  Miss  Brooks,  Frank's  teacher. 

Mrs.  J. —  How  do  you  do,  Miss  Brooks?     Won't  you  sit  down? 

4i 


Miss  B. —  Thank  you.  (Sits  down.)  I  was  passing  your  house  and 
thought  I  would  come  in  to  see  you. 

Mrs.  J. —  I'm  so  glad  you  did.  I  hope  you  are  not  having  any 
trouble  with  Frank,  Miss  Brooks. 

Miss  B. —  No — no  indeed,  Mrs.  Jackson.  I  came  to  tell  you  how 
splendidly  he  is  doing  in  school.  He  does  his  work  well 
and  he  is  so  industrious,  so  different  from  what  he  was  a 
few  months  ago.  I  felt  I  must  come  and  tell  you  how 
well  he  is  doing.      I  used  to  be  so  worried  about  him. 

Mrs.  J. —  You  make  me  very  happy,  Miss  Brooks,  by  telling  me  all 
this.  And  yesterday  I  heard  something  else  that  made 
me  happy.  I  met  Mollie's  teacher  on  the  street  and  she 
says  Mollie  is  getting  along  beautifully.  And  last  month 
Katie  had  such  a  good  report  card.  (A  knock  at  the 
door.) 

Mrs.  J. —  Come  in.  {Enter  Mrs.  King.)  Oh,  how  do  you  do,  Mrs. 
King?  Come  right  in.  Let  me  introduce  you  to  Miss 
Brooks,  Frank's  teacher. 

(Mrs.  K.  and  Miss  B.  shake  hands  and  say,  "How  do  you 
do?") 

Miss  B. —  I  have  just  been  telling  Mrs.  Jackson  how  well  her  son 
is  doing  in  school,  and  I  was  just  going  to  ask  her  what 
has  caused  the  change  in  him.  Why,  he  is  a  different 
boy. 

Mrs.  J. —  Miss  Brooks,  I  am  very  glad,  indeed,  to  tell  you  what 
has  caused  my  children  to  change  from  weak  and  sickly 
children  to  well  and  active  ones.  My  dear  friend,  Mrs. 
King,  is  really  the  one  who  did  it. 

Mrs.  K. — Nonsense,  Mrs.  Jackson. 

Mrs.  J.—  Yes,  it  was  you.  You  see,  Miss  Brooks,  I  was  feeding 
my  children  very  badly.  I  gave  them  a  great  deal  of 
meat  and  white  bread;  let  them  eat  too  many  sweets, 
and  allowed  them  to  drink  tea  and  coffee.  My  friend 
here  told  me  if  I  wanted  my  children  to  be  well,  I  must 
give  them  plenty  of  milk,  brown  bread  and  cereal.     She 

42 


taught  me  that  children  must  have  plenty  of  fruits,  either 
dried  or  fresh  and  lots  of  green  vegetables.  She  showed 
me  how  to  use  milk  in  soups,  and  puddings,  and  with 
vegetables.  Every  day  now  we  use  3  quarts  of  milk  and 
we  all  feel  better.  Why,  I  feel  ten  years  younger  than 
I  did  three  months  ago. 

Mrs.  K. — Yes,  and  you  look  better,  too.      (Enter  Kate,  Mollie  and 
Frances  talking.) 

K. —  I  gained  a  pound  last  month.      How  much  did  you  gain, 

Frances? 

F. —  I  gained  a  half  a  pound  as  I  always  do. 

Children — Good  afternoon,  Miss  Brooks,  and  Mrs.  King  and  Mrs. 
Jackson. 

Mrs.  J.,  Miss  B.  and  Mrs.  K. — Good  afternoon,  children.   • 

Mrs.  K. — How  well  Katie  and  Mollie  look.      Not  much  like  that 
day  three  months  ago.      (Enter  Frank.) 

F. —  Mother,  mother!     I  have  such  good  news!     Mr.  Adams 

wants  me  to  work  for  him  again  after  school  and  on  Sat- 
urdays. He  says  he  will  give  me  $5  a  week.  I  have 
been  doing  errands  for  him  lately  without  your  knowing 
it,  and  he  says  he  never  saw  such  a  change  in  a  boy. 

All —         Oh,  good,  good,  good,  Frank. 

Miss  B. —  Well,  this  is  a  wonderful  change. 

Mrs.  J. —  Yes,  and  we  owe  it  all  to  Mrs.  King.      Come,  let's  all 
gather  round  her  and  give  three  cheers. 

All —         Hurrah!     Hurrah!     Hurrah! 


43 


YOUNG  AMERICA 
AND  THE  MAGIC  CARPENTERS 

About  JO  boys  march  in,  carrying  milk  bottles  in  place  of  dumbbells,  and  give  drill. 
As  they  finish  and  fall  back  into  tableaux,  a  child  crying  vociferously,  followed  by 
its  mother  holding  a  glass  of  milk,  comes  in.      Then  follow  three  pretty,  tiny  girls. 

Child — {Sitting  on  stage  and  kicking  and  yelling)  I  hate  milk!  I 
won't  drink  it.     It  makes  me  sick! 

Mother — (Petting  child)  Come  dear,  drink  your  milk.      It  will 
make  you  healthy  like  these  pretty  little  girls.      (Turning  to  three 
little  girls)  You  drink  milk,  don't  you? 
Three  little  girls  sing.      (Singing) 

"Evening  light  in  the  pasture  land,  twinkling,  twinkling, 
Down  we  go  with  our  pail  in  hand, 
Mary,  Mollie  and  I. 

Soft  and  warm  is  the  milk  we  take  every  morning 
When  the  children  begin  to  wake, 
Mary,  Mollie  and  I." 

Leader  of  the  Drill — (Stepping  out)  What  is  this?  A  child  in 
this  land  of  America  who  is  not  anxious  to  become  a  physically 
perfect  citizen?  Impossible!  She  is  so  undeveloped  that  she  does 
not  inderstand.  Why,  milk  has  a  power  beyond  all  other  foods  to 
build  strong  bodies  for  boys  and  girls.  Every  time,  little  girl  (child 
stops  whimpering  and  looks  at  him)  you  drink  a  glass  of  milk,  you  are 
really  setting  to  work  my  fine  magic  little  carpenters.     Forward!  my 

Magic  Carpenters!  Tell  this 


silly  little  girl  who  you  are. 
(The  Magic  Carpen- 
ters march  in.) 
Protein 
Lime 
Fat 
Sugar 

Magic  Triplets 
Iron 

Laxative      Brothers 
Bread    and    Cereals 
100%   Good  Health 
(With  arms  locked  they  sing.       Tune  "Busy  Bee,  Come  and  Tell 
Me,u  page  52,  New  American  Music  Reader  I.) 


44 


Song — "Little  girl,  come  and  tell  us,  pray  why  are  you  crying, 
Tell  us  now  are  you  trying  to  eat  right  and  to  grow? 
Are  you  going  to  the  garden  where  flowers  are  blooming, 
There  to  drink  your  sweet  milk  in  the  bright  sunshine?" 

Child — Who  are  you? 

Magic  Carpenters — We  are  the  Magic  Carpenters,  the  expert 
body  builders. 

Protein — (Stepping  out)  I  am  Protein,  one  of  the  carpenters  who 
builds  muscle  and  brings  you  energy  and  vitality  for  work  and  play. 
You  find  me  in  the  thick  curd  of  sour  milk  and  in  cheese.  I  am  also 
in  meat,  but  remember,  I  do  better  work  when  I  live  in  milk  bottles 
than  when  I  come  from  the  butcher  shop. 

Lime — I  am  called  Lime  or  Calcium,  and  I  help  build  strong 
bones  and  firm  white  teeth.     (Shows  teeth) 

Fat — (Smiling)  I  am  a  merry  little  carpenter,  and  I  help  to  keep 
you  warm.     I  give  you  energy  to  work  and  play  like  Protein  does. 

Sugar — (Putting  her  arm  around  Fat)  I  help  Fat. 

The  Magic  Triplets— We  are  very  mysterious  carpenters.  We 
work  as  if  by  magic.  No  one  knows  much  about  us.  Men  call  us 
Vitamines.     We  help  to  make  you  grow  and  grow  and  grow! 

Iron — These  milk  carpenters  need  me.  I  am  Iron.  I  help  to 
make  good  red  blood.  You  will  find  me  in  green  vegetables  and 
fruit.      Eat  plenty  of  them.      You  will  also  find  me  in  eggs  and  meat. 

Laxative  Brothers — We  are  the  body's  housekeepers.  We  do  our 
work  through  the  green  vegetables  and  fruit'  We  are  very,  very 
important!  When  you  feel  very,  very  blue,  and  think  that  the 
world  is  all  wrong,  why  just  remember  us  and  the  work  that  we  do 
and  let  us  help  you. 

Leader  of  the  Drill — Here  are  some  children  who  seem  anxious  to 
speak  to  us.     Who  are  you? 

100%  Child — We  represent  the  children  who  are  trying  to  be 
100%  physically  perfect.  Mollie  and  Sam  have  made  up  their  own 
speeches.     Come  on,  Sam. 

45 


Sam — (Original  speech)  What  does  it  mean  to  be  100%  perfect 
physically?  The  answer  is,  "To  feel  fine  and  good  all  over  and 
ready  for  anything."  The  100%  perfect  boy  feels  so  full  of  life 
and  energy  that  he  wants  to  work  as  well  as  play. 

In  a  crowd  of  boys  one  can  easily  pick  out  the  100%  perfect 
boy.  His  skin  is  clear — his  cheeks  are  rosy — his  eyes  are  bright — 
he  is  well  built  and  has  good  posture.  All  his  actions  are  full  of 
energy. 

Anyone  can  become  100%  perfect  if  he  obeys  a  few  simple  rules. 
First  of  all,  you  must  have  plenty  of  sleep  in  a  room  where  the  air 
is  fresh.  Exercise  regularly  in  the  open  air  each  day.  Keep  the 
body  clean.  Do  not  play  in  the  house  but  get  out  into  the  fresh 
air.  But  possibly  the  most  important  factor  in  the  making  of  the 
body  strong  and  well  is  food.  Good,  wholesome  and  simple  food 
every  day  with  plenty  of  water  between  meals  helps  in  building  up 
the  body,  and  in  keeping  it  in  good  condition. 

Do  you  know  what  is  good  wholesome  food  for  you  and  me? 
Milk  is  the  best  food  for  all  of  us.  Milk  gives  half  the  power  we 
have  in  our  body.  A  child  that  drinks  milk  today  is  a  healthy  man 
tomorrow. 

I  am  making  myself  a  better  citizen — then  if  my  country  needs 
me,  I  shall  be  physically  prepared.  Cho  Cho  says,  "On  the  health 
of  the  child  today  depends  the  health  of  the  commonwealth  tomor- 
row." So,  boys  and  girls,  men  and  women,  let  us  all  try  to  be 
healthy,  fine  Americans! 

Mollie — People  of  America!  It  is  your  duty  to  keep  your  child- 
ren healthy!  Why  give  them  tea  and  coffee  when  we  know  they 
are  harmful?  Why  not  give  them  the  right  kind  of  food  that  will 
make  them  healthy  and  make  them  grow  into  the  finest  citizens? 
And  do  you  know  that  your  children  will  do  much  better  work  now 
at  school  if  they  are  fed  right? 

If  there  should  be  a  war  in  the  future — and  I  hope  there  will 
not  be — will  a  large  percentage  of  our  boys  be  rejected  because  you 
have  not  fed  them  correctly?  No!  Not  if  we  all  do  our  duty  and 
eat  the  right  kind  of  food. 

What  is  one  of  the  most  needed  foods  for  children?  Do  you 
know?  Well,  I  shall  tell  you.  It  is  milk,  milk,  milk,  and  plenty 
of  it! 

Mother— Well,  it  seems  to  me  that  the  children  of  America  are 
certainly  blessed  that  they  have  good  milk  to  drink! 

46 


Child — Would  I  look  like  those  pretty  little  girls  if  I  drank  my 
milk? 

Mother — Yes,  child. 

Child — Well,  I  want  my  milk  now,  and  I  want  more  tonight. 

Mother — Come  over  here  in  the  flower  garden,  in  the  sunshine, 
to  drink  it. 

Twenty-five  girls,  dressed  in  white,  carrying  large  sunflowers,  which 
may  be  made  of  paper,  dance  in.  They  dance  "Reap  the  Flax."  As 
they  dance  the  four  little  girls  play  in  among  the  dancers. 

At  the  end  of  the  dance  all  the  performers  pass  out  to  music. 


47 


A  DAY  IN  HAPPYLAND 


PROLOGUE 

CHARACTERS 

Spirit  of  Progress  —  Puritan 
Family  of  1620  {Father,  Mother, 
Two  daughters,  Tableau,  1620) — 
Family  of  1820  {Mother,  Two  daugh- 
ters, Tableau,  1820)  —  Girl  Who 
Introduces  1920. 

SCENE     I. 


Little  Girl     — 
Buxom' s   children)  ■ 

BEES      —      CLOWN,- 


Fairy  —  Mother  Buxom  —  Five  Girls  {Mother 
-  Mrs.  Grouch  —  Five  Butterflies  —  Five  Bumble- 
-Cho  Cho. 


The  costume  of  Progress  is  of  rainbow-colored  crepe  paper  ribbons  and  she 
carries  an  electric  lamp.  The  Puritan  Mother  and  Daughters  wear  dark  dresses 
and  white  caps,  kerchiefs,  cuffs  and  aprons.  The  Father  wears  bloomers  and 
woolen  stockings,  a  leather-colored  coat  with  dark  sleeves,  buckled  hat  and  shoes. 
The  short-waisted  dresses  of  the  1S20  Mother  and  Daughters  should  be  of  any  bright 
colors.  White  stockings  and  kerchiefs  are  worn  and  the  Mother  should  have  a  thin- 
ruffled  cap.  The  Girl  who  introduces  1920  should  be  fashionably  dressed.  The 
Fairy  could  be  dressed  in  pink  and  blue  cheese-cloth  with  paper  wings.  Mother 
Buxom  should  look  very  neat  in  a  simple  wash  dress  and  fresh  apron,  while  Mrs. 
Grouch  is  rather  untidy.  The  Butterflies  wear  gray  brown  stockings  and  dresses  in 
either  cheese-cloth  or  crepe  paper  with  huge  brightly  colored  paper  wings.  Direc- 
tions for  making  these  and  the  wings  of  the  Fairy  and  Bumblebees  may  be  had 
at  any  first-class  stationery  paper  store.  The  Bees  have  dark  brown  or  black 
stockings,  jerseys  and  trunks  with  little  yellow  boleros,  covering  their  entire  backs. 
Cho  Clio  has  a  black  cap,  red  wig  and  red  and  green  diamonds  decorating  the  waist 
of  his  white  suit. 

Time  necessary  to  give  play,  30  minutes. 
Number  of  characters  29. 

PROLOGUE 

{Spirit  of  Progress  carrying  a  torch  enters  from  the  back  of  the 
room  amd  walks  through  the  center  aisle  to  the  stage.) 

Spirit  of  Progress — "I  am  the  Spirit  of  Progress.  From  the  be- 
ginning have  I  dwelt  in  the  hearts  of  men  and  inspired  and  led 
them.  Where  I  pointed  men  pressed  forward,  braved  peril  and 
sickness,  death  and  disaster,  nor  counted  the  cost,  feeling  no  price 
was  too  great  to  pay  if  it  brought  new  opportunities  and  greater 
happiness  to  their  children. 


48 


"In  1620  I  pointed  the  way  across  the  broad  Atlantic  and 
the  Puritan,  firm  of  purpose  and  relentless  in  zeal,  embarked 
on  the  stormy  voyage,  landed  in  the  wilderness  and  with 
courageous  pluck  and  perseverance  built  a  home  for  his  children." 


Draws  curtain — Tableau. 


(Puritan  home  scene:  Mother 
spinning.  Father  at  open  door 
with  ax  and  gun.  Oldest 
daughter  weaving  on  a  small 
hand-made  loom.  Second 
daughter  knitting  a  sock.  If 
stage  permits  the  tableau  will 
be  most  effective  with  a  large 
family  of  children,  each  one 
representing  a  different  activity 
found    in  the   Puritan    home.) 


Spirit  of  Progress  explains  while  tableau  is  being  shown. 

"Happiness  was  there  but  this  was  sometimes  overshadowed  by 
the  constant  toil  that  was  necessary  to  provide  for  the  family. 

Seeds  had  to  be  planted  and  harvested.  Flour  and  meal  had 
to  be  made  from  the  grain.  Sheep  had  to  be  raised  and  the  wool 
sheared,  spun  and  woven  into  cloth.  Socks  had  to  be  knit.  Hides 
had  to  be  tanned  into  leather  for  shoes.  Tools  had  to  be  made. 
Houses  had  to  be  built.  Wild  animals  had  to  be  killed,  and  all 
these  things  a  single  family  had  to  accomplish, — 

(Draws  curtains  on  tableau) 
but  the  Spirit  of  Progress  influenced  men's  minds  and  new  ideas 
came  to  them.      Machinery  was  invented  and  the  toil  of  the  home 
grew  less.     Behold  1820. 

(Draws  curtain,  shows  home  scene  in  1820) 

(Mother  making  a  cotton  dress  for  child,  elder  daughter  sewing — 
younger  child  studying.) 

Spirit  of  Progress — 

"From  the  sunny  southland  came  the  bales  of  cotton, 
.  A  new  machine  had  just  been  fashioned, 
Which  could  take  out  seeds  and  leave  the  fibre, 
And  could  do  it  very  quickly. 
And  a  machine  to  spin  these  fibres 
Into  cotton  threads  for  weaving, 
Was  invented  in  old  England. 


49 


Power  looms  were  made  to  do  the  weaving, 

Maidens  no  longer  worked  the  shuttle 
But  an  engine  run  by  water 
Wove  the  cotton  oh,  so  swiftly. 
Thus  were  factories  built  for  labor 
Which  now  left  the  home  forever. 

Up  the  Hudson  sails  a  steamboat 

And  a  railroad  has  been  planned  for, 

So  materials  from  the  factory 

Can  be  carried  to  the  family. 

Thus  the  home  of  1820  is  a  scene  of  greater  leisure. 

(End  of  Tableau — Draws  Curtains) 

Happiness  was  there  but  all  was  not  well;    ignorance  and  sick- 
ness still  dwelt  with  men  and  when  they  are  present  happiness  flees. 
These  must  be  overcome  so  the  Spirit  of  Progress  still  leads  on 
and  men  must  follow  where  she  leads."    Progress  goes  out. 
Girl  recites: 

"This  is  the  year  1920.  We  have  turned  the  pages  of  history 
back  and  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  life  of  1620,  then  we  skipped  the 
volumes  containing  the  record  of  two  hundred  years,  and  opened 
again  to  a  picture  entitled  1820.  We  are  now  on  the  threshold  of 
a  new  centur)\  Our  stage  is  too  small  to  illustrate  the  life  of  1920. 
One  needs  only  to  cross  the  street  to  see: 

Railroads 

Telegraphs 

Telephones 

Wireless  Telegraphy 

Electrical  Appliances 

Automobiles 

Aeroplanes 
Can  you  imagine  living  in  New  York  with  none  of  these  things? 
As  a  result  of  these  inventions  the  home  no  longer  produces  its 
own  supplies  but  they  are  brought  to  its  door  from  every  corner  of 
the  earth  and  are  ready  with  very  slight  alterations  for  immediate 
use.  Girls  of  today  would  feel  misused  if  they  were  required  to 
perform  the  tasks  which  fell  to  the  maidens  of  1620,  and  1820  would 
not  suit  them  much  better.  The  inventions  of  the  last  hundred 
years  have  added  greatly  to  people's  comfort  and  many  discoveries 
have  been  made  about  the  laws  of  health.  The  people  who  use 
this  knowledge  are  wiser  and  happier  than  ever  before.  To  prove 
that  this  is  so  we  ask  you  to  go  with  this  child  to  spend  a  day  in 
a  home  in  happy  land."    Girl  draws  curtain  then  passes  out. 

5o 


Scene  I.    (Girl  curled  up  in  an  easy  chair  talking  to  herself) 

Girl —  Dear,  dear,  I'm  glad  the  war  is  over  but  I  do  miss 

working  for  my  country.     I  used  to  feel  so  patriotic 
and  now  there  is  nothing  to  do. 
Enter  Fairy  from  rear — dances  down  aisle  chanting: 

Fairy —  People  bad — People  sick, 

People  poor — People  thick, 
This  is  no  place  for  me — for  me — 
I'm  off  to  the  land  of  jollity. 
Stops  before  little  girl. 

Ah,  little  Miss, 

Watch  this  wand 

See  happiness! 
Curtain  is  drawn      (Mother  Buxom  is  shown  getting  breakfast  for 
children  five.) 

Mother  Buxom  now  arrives 

Getting  breakfast  for  children  five. 
Enter  Mrs.  Grouch,  a  sour,  forlorn  looking  woman. 

Mother  Buxom — Why,  good  morning,  Mrs.  Grouch,  you  must  have 
gotten  breakfast  very  early  for  your  family. 

Mrs.  Grouch —     (crossly)    Breakfast   nothing,    they   get   their   own 
breakfast. 

Mother  Buxom — My  children  do  too,  but  while  they  are  taking  their 
baths  I  get  things  started. 

Mrs.  Grouch —  Bathe  every  day,  what  an  idea,  whiningly.  My 
children  don't  go  to  bed  at  night  and  they  are  so 
sleepy  in  the  morning  that  they  can't  get  up  until 
about  five  minutes  before  school  time — then  they 
drink  a  cup  of  coffee,  cut  off  a  chunk  of  bread  and 
run.  My  children  are  always  sick  and  don't  have 
any  appetite.  How  is  it  your  children  are  so 
healthy  since  they  moved  up  here? 
Five  butterflies  fly  in  and  fly  around.    They  repeat  in  concert  several 

times  to  Mrs.  Grouch: 

Why  be  sick?     It  costs  money  to  be  sick,  and  it's 
no  fun  besides. 
Butterflies  fly  out. 

Si 


Mrs.  Grouch —    {weeping)    You   are   making   fun   of  my   troubles, 
Mother  Buxom. 
Girl  comes  in  to  back  of  stage  and  begins  setting  table.     Mother  B. 
goes  and  sits  down  by  Mrs.  G. 

Mother  Buxom — Sister  Grouch,  you  listen  to  me.  I've  lived  in  this 
land  of  happiness  two  years  now  and  happy  years 
they  have  been;  not  for  worlds  would  I  live  any- 
where else  but  I  never  would  have  found  a  house  in 
Happy  Land  if  butterflies  and  bumble  bees  had  not 
guided  me  to  it.  Listen  to  what  they  say. 
Enter  five  bumble  bees — chant  together. 

Five  bumble  bees- — Here  I  come  humming — the  velvety  bee 
Busy  as  ever  as  you  can  see. 
{Bumble  bees  give  a  dance) 

Mother  Buxom — Bumble  bees,  tell  Mrs.  Grouch  what  she  must  do 
to  live  in  Happy  Land. 

Each  bumble  bee  buzzes  to  two  posters.  Reads  them  and  buzzes 
back — the  last  poster  they  say  together.     Then  buzz  out. 

Note. — Ten  posters  illustrating  health  rules  and  containing 
appropriate  titles  had  been  hung  in  conspicuous  places  about  the 
stage.  The  following  are  the  jingles.  Any  picture  which  illustrates 
the  title  will  do. 

Posters  read  by  bumble  bees. 

1.  Windows  open  all  the  night 

In  our  bedrooms  airy; 
Give  us  all  an  appetite, 
For  our  breakfast  early. 

2.  A  bath  a  day  is  our  way. 

3.  Milk  is  better  than  meat. 

This  child  drinks  at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day. 

4.  No  coffee  for  him 
Milk  gives  him  vim. 

5.  Thus  saith  Dr.  Lusty — 
Oatmeal  makes  kids  husky. 

6.  Clean  teeth  are  pearls  of  priceless  worth 

7.  What  we  seek  is  a  shampoo  a  week. 

8.  Fresh  air  and  exercise 
Make  rosy  cheeks  and  bright  eyes. 

52 


9.  Fresh  fruits  and  leafy  vegetables  every  day! 

Make  us  strong  for  work  and  play. 
10.  Is  your  child  building  a  strong,  healthy  body  by  drink- 
ing at  least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day? 

Mrs.  Grouch —  Sakes  alive!  Mother  Buxom.  Now  aren't  those 
butterflies  odd.  Don't  tell  me  your  children  follow 
all  that  advice? 

Mother  Buxom — Here  come  the  children.     I  will  let  them  speak  for 
themselves. 
{Four  children  of  different  ages  run  in.     The  girl  who  has  been  set- 
ting table  and  preparing  breakfast  joins  them  as  they  hand  in  hand 
dance  around  chanting) 

Children  to 

Audience —      Five  merry  children  here  are  we, 
Healthy  and  happy  as  we  can  be; 
Fresh  air  and  bath  may  make  you  squeal, 
But  it  makes  us  crazy  for  our  oatmeal. 
Good  morning,  mother  dear. 

Mother  Buxom — Good  morning,  children,  come  to  breakfast.  Mrs. 
Grouch  won't  you  join  us? 

Mrs.  Grouch —    No,  thank  you,  Mother  Buxom,  I've  had  my  breakfast. 
{Family  seat  themselves  at  breakfast  table  and  serve  breakfast.) 
Menu:  Baked  Apples,  Oatmeal,  Toast,  Cocoa. 
{Table  tastefully  set  and  served  in  simple  but  good  taste.) 

Mrs.  Grouch —    My  children  would  all  fight  if  they  sat  down  to- 
gether. 
Butterflies  fly  in  chanting,  walk  around  Mrs.  G.  twice. 

Butterflies —        Oh,  what  would  a  cross  patch's  breakfast  be 

— A  hard-boiled  egg  and  a  cup  of  tea.    {Repeat) 
{Repeat  several  times  then  prance  of  the  stage.) 

Mother  Buxom — They  mean,  Mrs.   Grouch,  that  such  a  breakfast 

makes  cross  patches.    We  have  found  that  fruit  is 

always  appetizing  the  first  thing  in  the  morning. 

Today  we  are  having  baked  apples. 

{Girl  removes  baked  apples  and  fruit  dishes,  then  oatmeal  is  served. 

While  fruit  dishes  are  being  removed  all  the  girls  recite  together.) 

{Children    hold   up    dishes    containing    baked    apples    and    recite) 

53 


Children —  Fruit  for  breakfast  is  very  good, 

It  makes  us  relish  the  rest  of  our  food ; 

It  contains  mineral  matter  and 

So  it  helps  to  make  our  machinery  go. 

Mother  Buxom — Mary,  tell  Mrs.  Grouch  some  of  the  things  which 

you  have  learned  in  school  about  foods  and  how 

that  knowledge  has  helped  us  to  plan  breakfasts 

which  keep  all  the  children  healthy. 

(Mary  gels  up  from  the  table  and  goes  over  and  seals  herself  in 

front  of  Mrs.  G.     Family  is  eating  oatmeal  while  Mary  is  reciting.) 

Mary —  During  the  war  a  large  percentage  of  the  men  ex- 

amined for  service  in  our  Army  were  found  to  be 
physically  unfit.  Health  surveys  of  the  children  in 
some  of  our  large  cities  have  been  made  and  a  great 
number  of  these  children  have  been  found  to  be  un- 
dernourished and  undersized.  In  most  cases  this 
condition  has  not  been  due  to  lack  of  food  nor 
because  of  lack  of  money  to  buy  it  but  because 
these  children,  rich  as  well  as  poor,  were  not  getting 
the  right  kinds  and  right  amounts  of  nourishment. 
Food  must  do  these  things  for  the  body: 

It  must  keep  the  body  warm. 

It  must  give  one  strength  for  work  and  play. 

It  must  keep  the  machinery  of  the  body  work- 
ing right. 

It  must  repair  worn-out  parts  and  make  the 

body  grow. 

Doctors  and  scientists  have  proved  that  every  day 

a  person  must  eat  some  fruit  and  vegetables,  some 

cereal,  drink  plenty  of  milk  and  eat  some  fat  like 

butter.     Other  foods  such  as  meat,  fish  and  eggs 

may  be  added  but  without  the  first  mentioned  the 

body  will  not  keep  healthy.     My  mother  gives  us 

these  foods  every  day  so  we  have  become  strong, 

merry  girls  and  we  live  in  Happy  Land. 

(Alary  returns  to  table,  a  girl  removes  cereal  and  places  cocoa  and 

toast  on  table.       While  she  is  doing  this  children  at  table  recite  in  concert.) 

Children —  Cooked  Oatmeal  served  with  plenty  of  milk  sup- 

plies both  energy  and  building  material.  Eat  them 
for  breakfast  and  watch  your  cheeks  puff  out. 


54 


Mother  Buxom — Susie,  tell  Mrs.  Grouch  why  we  have  cocoa  and 
milk  for  breakfast  instead  of  tea  or  coffee. 
(While  Susie  is  reciting,  Mother  B.  serves  cocoa  and  toast  is  passed.) 
Susie  comes  forward  and  tells  the  audience: 

Susie —  Once  upon  a  time  Happy  land  was  Unhappy  land 

and  I  will  tell  you  why.  Many  of  the  inhabitants 
were  unhealthy.  Then  almost  every  child  drank  tea 
and  coffee  and  didn't  like  milk.  They  were  cross 
and  nervous  and  didn't  do  well  in  their  lessons. 
One  night  what  do  you  think  happened?  You'd 
never  guess.  A  star  shot  out  of  the  milky  way  and 
fell  down,  down  and  landed  right  in  the  park  in 
the  center  of  the  town.  All  the  people  rushed 
there  and  what  do  you  suppose  they  found?  Stand- 
ing in  the  middle  of  a  plot  of  grass  was  a  cow !  She 
must  have  ridden  there  on  a  meteor!  It  was  the 
cow  that  jumped  over  the  moon!  This  was  a  very 
queer  acting  animal.  She  wouldn't  have  jumped 
over  the  moon  if  she  hadn't  been.  That  night  she 
broke  into  a  grocery  store  and  got  a  bag  of  tea  and 
coffee  on  each  of  her  horns  and  threw  it  up  in  the 
air  and  it  went  back  over  the  moon  to  the  place 
she  came  from.  In  day  time  this  cow  ate  grass  and 
gave  milk  like  any  other  cow  but  moon  light  nights 
she  went  prowling  around  looking  for  tea  and  coffee. 
She  always  found  some  and  threw  two  bags  at  a 
time  over  the  moon  and  she  never  stopped  until 
the  children  gave  up  drinking  them  and  took  milk 
instead. 

As  soon  as  they  did  that  they  slept  nine  hours 
every  night  and  with  their  windows  open  and  their 
cheeks  grew  rosy  and  they  did  better  work  in  their 
lessons,  too.  When  the  cow  saw  this  she  also  went 
to  bed  and  slept  as  she  should.  Now  Unhappy 
land  is  Happy  land  where  only  the  grown-ups  take 
tea  and  coffee  and  the  children  under  five  have  at 
least  a  pint  of  milk  a  day  because  it  supplies  prac- 
tically all  the  materials  which  their  bodies  need. 
Even  at  twenty  cents  a  quart  it  is  cheaper  than 
meat  and  much  better  for  them.  The  children  who 
don't  like  milk,  drink  cocoa  made  with  milk  just  as 
we  are  doing  this  morning. 

55 


Children  hold  up  cups  of  cocoa.    Susie  goes  back  to  the  table.      The 
children  fold  napkins  and  all  rise  and  say: 

Childdren —         A  very  nice  breakfast  mother  dear. 

We  will  brush  our  teeth  and  smooth  our  hair, 

Then  take  our  books  and  go  to  school, 

For  tardiness  is  against  our  rule. 

(Children  go  out) 
Note. — The  Butterfly  and  Bumble  Bee  dances  were  taught  by  the 
physical  education  teachers. 

Mother  Buxom  to 

Mrs.  Grouch — Here  come  the  butterflies  bringing  a  message  to  us. 

Mother  Buxom  and  Mrs.  Grouch  sit  down  and  watch  the  butterflies 

give  a  dance.     When  it  is  over  they  fly  off  and  a  clown  enters  from  the 

back  shaking  his  tambourine  and  prances  down  the  center  aisle  calling: 

Cho  Cho —  Cho  Cho  says  and  Cho  Cho  knows 

That  if  you  do  as  these  rhymes  say, 
Eat  and  drink  and  bathe  and  play, 
And  sleep  in  the  good  fresh  air, 
You  will  surely  be  happy  and  gay. 
Clown  runs  up  to  Mother  Buxom: 

Cho  Cho —  Mother  Buxom — you're  no  dunce, 

Get  those  children  a  good  lunch; 
Something  easy  to  digest, 
LEAVING  TIME  FOR  THEM  TO  REST. 
Spies  Bumble  Bee  with  tray  in  back  and  calls: 

Cho  Cho —  Aha!  Bumble — fly  this  way, 

What  have  you  upon  that  tray? 
Bumble  Bee  comes  upon  stage  and  shows  tray  with  lunch  to  Mother 
Buxom  and  Mrs.  Grouch. 

Bumble  Bee —      Here's  a  bowl  of  pea  soup 
With  butter  and  bread, 
This  can  be  eaten  quickly 
With  nothing  to  dread; 
Then  a  glass  of  milk 
And  a  ginger  cake, 
Eaten  more  slowly 
Will  give  you  no  ache. 
Bumble  Bee  sets  tray  down  and  stands  back. 

56 


{Cho    Cho    sees   a   butterfly   in   back   of  room   with   another   tray 
and   calls: 

Cho  Cho —  Butterfly  upon  the  wing, 

Show  us  all  the  foods  you  bring. 
Butterfly  brings  tray  down  center  aisle  and  goes  upon  stage  to 
Mother  B.  and  Mrs.  G.: 

Butterfly —  Dinner,  dinner  do  you  wish 

Baked  potato,  spinach,  fish, 
Cornstarch  pudding  with  sliced  fruit, 
Such  a  dinner  ought  to  suit. 
Sets  tray  down  and  dances  out  behind  Cho  Cho.     Cho  Cho  beats 

tambourine,  prances  and  dances,  chanting  his  way  out: 

Cho  Cho —  Oh  happy  land,  oh  happy  land, 

That's  the  land  for  me  and  you — 
We  don't  get  the  stomach  ache 
From  eating  too  much  pie  and  cake. 
We  do  get  our  problems  right 
We  do  work  with  all  our  might, 
We  are  happy  day  and  night, 
And  we  wish  the  same  to  you. 
Our  motto's  "keeping  fit" 
So  each  one  can  do  her  bit. 
Fixing  this  world's  quite  a  trick, 
You  can't  do  it  if  you're  sick; 
And  it's  up  to  me  and  you! 
Come  join  our  healthy  band, 
Make  this  a  happy  land, 
For  it's  up  to  me  and  you! 
Goes  of  followed  by  butterfly  and  bumble  bee. 

Mrs.  Grouch —  I  wonder,  if  I  taught  my  children  to  do  what  But- 
terfly and  Bumble  Bee  and  Mother  Buxom  have 
told  me  we  might  move  to  Happy  land.  I'm 
going  home  to  try.       {Fairy  draws  curtain) 

Girl —  Oh  fairy,  you  heard  me  say  that  I  missed  the  war 

work.  {Jumps  up,  seizes  fairy  by  the  hand  and  says:) 
Hurrah!  I'm  going  to  start  a  health  campaign. 
Come,  let's  drink  to  the  health  of  every  child  in 
the  U.  S.  A. 

57 


Fairy —  In  the  world! 

Girl  dances  to  the  table  where  there  is  a  bottle  of  milk,  pours  out 
two  glasses,  gives  one  to  fairy  and  says  as  they  touch  glasses: 


Both— 


Here's  to  every  child  in  the  U.  S.  A.       May  each 
do  her  bit  to  make  the  world  a  happy  land. 


EPILOGUE 

Spirit  of  Progress — (Standing  in  the  back  of  the  room  holding  a  torch) 
Now  it  came  to  pass  when  all  these  things  had  been 
accomplished  there  were  many  happy  homes  in  the 
land  but  injustice  and  discord  were  still  present  so 
some   families   still    suffered.       Then   men   peered 
forward  and  beheld  the  torch  of  Progress  gleaming 
on  the  horizon  and  her  clarion  voice  came  ringing 
down  from  the  far-distant  future,  saying: 
"Hail  citizens  of  strong  bodies  and  clear  minds, 
Search  for  new  knowledge  and  you  shall  find  it; 
Try  new  experiences — thus  will  you  learn  how  to 

overcome  your  difficulties: 
Ask  your  neighbor's  aid  and  give  him  yours;    so 
shall  all  men  work  together  to  make  this  earth  a 
pleasant  place  in  which  to  live." 


53 


THE  MAGIC  MILK  GAME 


Milk- 


CHARACTERS 

Every  Child  —  Health  Child  —  Milk,  dressed  as  a 
magician  —  The  Inhabitants  of  "Milk  Land"  (Each 
wears  a  poster  bearing  a  cow  and  their  name) — Protein — 
Fat — Sugar— Lime — Vitamines  (8  children). 

Every  Child —  Oh,  dear!  I  have  tried  so  hard 
to  get  a  place  on  the  school 
baseball  team,  and  yet  I  failed 
because  I  am  too  light.  I  won- 
der how  I  can  gain  weight. 


Ha,  Every  Child,  it's  a  great  game — gaining  weight. 
Not  hard  if  you  really  know  how. 


Every  Child —  What   is  this   game?     Perhaps   I  know  it. 
Milk—  The  Milk  Game! 


Every  Child—  The  Milk  Game!       Ha!    Ha!    Ha! 
That  is  only  every  baby's  game. 


Ha!    Ha!    Ha! 


Milk —  No,  no,  Every  Child,  it  is  not  only  every  baby's 

game,  but  every  child's.  I  am  the  great  magician, 
Milk.  I  have  power  beyond  all  other  foods  to  build 
the  bodies  of  boys  and  girls.  Let  me  show  you  my 
great  power.  With  my  magic  wand,  I  will  call  my 
helpers  from  "Milk  Land." 

Every  Child —  I  am  ready.    Show  me  the  wonderful  people  of  your 
land. 
(Milk  waves  his  wand.    Protein,  Fat,  Sugar,  Lime,  and  the  Vita- 
mines  come  in,  form  a  line  facing  the  audience,  and  say  together) : 

We  are  the  magic  inhabitants  of  "Milk  Land." 
(Then  each  steps  forward  in  turn  and  speaks) 

Protein —  People  call  me  Protein.  I  bring  you  energy  and 
strength  for  your  work  and  play.  You  find  me  in 
the  thick  curd  of  sour  milk  and  in  cheese. 


59 


Fat —  Folks  call  me  Fat.     I  give  heat  to  help  keep  you  warm. 

Sugar —  I   am  called  Sugar.      I  work  with  brother  Fat,   to 

make  you  warm  and  strong. 

Lime —  Lime  is  my  name.     No  one  can  do  without  me.     I 

am  necessary  to  every  child  in  order  to  have  strong 
bones  and  firm,  white  teeth. 

Vita  mines —  {together)  We  are  the  little  mysterious  triplets.  We 
have  the  magic  power  of  making  the  body  of  every 
child  grow. 

Milk —  My  helpers  stand  before  you,   Every  Child.      You 

need  them  all — Protein,  Fat,  Sugar,  Lime,  and  the 
Vitamines.  Do  you  not  think  they  are  wonderful 
players? 

Every  Child —  How  is  the  "Milk  Game"  played? 

Milk —  Take  at  least  one  pint  of  milk  a  day.      Drink  me 

alone,  or  take  me  in  cocoa,  creamed  vegetables  or 
puddings.    I  am  ready  for  your  answer. 
{Health  Boy  walks  in  and  stands  besides  Every  Child) 

Health  Child — Just  look  at  me.  I  have  always  played  the  "Milk 
Game." 

Every  Child —  I  choose  you,  Milk,  for  my  weight  gainer.  {Turns  to 
audience)  I  promise  that  the  magic  "Milk  Game"  will 
be  played  every  day  by  Every  Child. 


60 


MARY'S  VEGETABLE  GARDEN 


This  play  was  given  in  a  foreign  district.  The  mothers  helped  the  children  by  loan- 
ing them  the  aprons,  shawls  and  other  garments  which  they  had  worn  as  children 
in  the  other  countries.  The  play  was  used  to  introduce  the  eating  and  naming  of 
vegetables  and  was  followed  by  vegetable  lessons  in  the  Domestic  Science  kitchen  in 
which  the  children  related  the  use  of  foreign  vegetables  with  those  peculiar  to  America. 

CAST 
The  Story  Teller  —  Mary  —  Yetta  —  Anna  —  Vincenza  —  Sultana. 

The  Story  Teller — {bowing  to  the  audience)  I  am  going  to  tell  you  the 
story  of  Mary  and  her  vegetable  garden: 

Mary,  Mary,  not  contrary, 

Goes  to  market  each  day 
On  the  sunny  side  of  Stanton  Street, 

Just  across  the  way. 
{Mary  enters  with  basket  of  vegetables) 

Mary —  {to  all)  Good  morning. 

{Yetta  enters) 
The  Story  Teller — Here  is  Yetta,  Mary's  friend  from  Russia. 

Yetta —  Oh  Mary,  what  gives  you  such  rosy  cheeks? 

You  never  look  pale  or  faint. 

Mary —  With  good  food  and  plenty  of  exercise 

I  never  need  to  use  paint. 
{Anna  enters) 

The  Story  Teller — And  here  is  Anna  from  Roumania. 

Anna —  Oh,  Mary,  what  makes  your  eyes  so  bright, 

And  why  is  your  face  so  fair? 

Mary —  I  go  to  bed  early  and  sleep  nine  hours 

And  get  plenty  of  good  fresh  air. 
{Vincenza  enters) 

The  Story  Teller — Here  is  Vincenza  from  Italy. 

Vincenza —  Oh,  Mary,  what  makes  your  step  so  light, 

And  how  do  you  keep  so  well? 

61 


Mary —  With  good  food  and  drink  and  habits  right, 

There's  nothing  more  to  tell. 
(Sultana  enters) 

The  Story  Teller — Here  is  Sultana  from  Turkey. 

Sultana —  Please,  Mary,  tell  us  what  food  you  eat. 

And  tell  us  how  you  buy. 
We  want  to  keep  well  and  have  rosy  cheeks, 
And  we'll  promise  you  we'll  try. 

Mary —  I  buy  each  day  some  carrots  and  beets, 

To  keep  my  complexion  clear; 
While  you  use  your  pennies  to  buy  some  sweets 
You're  very  foolish,  my  dear. 

When  too  much  starch  my  food  contains, 

I  change  to  beans  and  peas 
Lettuce  and  onions,  too,  are  good, 

And  all  such  foods  as  these. 

Yetta —  But  we  like  candy  and  other  sweets 

Mary,  don't  you  eat  these? 

The  Story  Teller — But  Mary,  perhaps  contrary  now, 
Said — 

Mary —  Only  vegetables,  please. 

(Mary  shares  her  vegetables  with  her  little  friends  who  stand  in  a 
row  facing  the  audience) 

The  Story  Teller — They  filled  their  baskets  to  the  brim, 
With  all  nice  things  that  grow; 
Like  Mary,  they'll  all  have  rosy  cheeks, 
These  pretty  maids  all  in  a  row. 

Then  together  they  all  tripped  gayly  along, 

And  Mary  led  the  way, 
While  the  vegetable  folk  stood  up  in  their  carts 

And  cried  "Please  buy  us  today." 

(All  leave  stage  skipping  and  humming  a  song.) 
(Story  Teller  bows  and  leaves  stage.) 

62 


THE  STORY  THE  MILK  TOLD 

TO  ME 


Did  you  have  a  drink  of  good,  sweet  milk  this  morning? 
Yes!  Well,  so  did  I,  and  let  me  tell  you  the  story  it  told  to  me 
as  it  stood,  white  and  creamy,  in  the  tall  glass.  You  see,  just 
as  I  was  lifting  it  to  my  lips,  it  looked  so  foaming  and  fresh,  that 
I   said: 

"Good  Milk,  do  tell  me  where  you  came  from  before  the 
milkman  brought  you  to  me?" 

The  milk  bubbled  up  a  little,  then  settled  down  quietly  and  said : 

"Yes,  I  will  tell  you  about  it.  Before  the  milkman  brought 
me  to  you  I  stood  in  a  bottle,  with  ever  so  many  other  bottles,  in 
a  dark,  cool  ice-box  in  the  milkman's  shop,  where  we  shivered  and 
grew  very  cold." 

"Then  that  is  what  makes  you  so  cold  now,  is  it?"  said  I. 

"Yes,"  bubbled  the  milk.  "Well,  before  I  lived  in  the  milk- 
man's shop,  I  was  swimming  around  with  ever  so  much  other  milk 
in  a  very  large  milk-can,  out  in  the  country,  waiting  to  be  bottled 
and  carried  to  the  city." 

"Oh!"  I  interrupted,  "I  didn't  know  you  came  from  the  country. 
Do  you  grow  on  trees  or  in  the  ground?" 

The  milk  laughed  so  hard  and  shook  so,  that  it  almost  spilled 
itself  over  on  the  tablecloth,  and  I  was  afraid  it  would  break  the 
glass.     As  soon  as  it  could  speak  again  it  said: 

"Dear  me!  Didn't  you  know  that  before  I  was  put  in  the  milk- 
can  I  came  right  from  the  old  Bossy  Cow,  who  stands  in  the  meadow 
by  the  river,  chewing  her  cud?     But  before  that,  and  before  I  was 

63 


white,  creamy  milk  as  you  see  me  now,  I  grew  tall  and  green  on 
the  river  bank.  No  wonder  you  look  astonished.  Yes,  I  was  grass 
for  the  good  old  cow  to  eat." 

"And  before  you  were  milk,  you  were  grass?  How  funny! 
And  before  that?" 

"That  is  a  long  story,"  rippled  the  milk. 

"But  where  do  you  go  after  I  drink  you?"  I  asked. 

"Oh!  after  you  drink  me,"  answered  the  milk,  "I  change  into 
rich,  red  blood,  to  make  your  body  grow  strong  and  healthy." 

"Dear,  good  milk,"  said  I,  as  I  once  more  lifted  the  glass  to  my 
lips,  "then  I  won't  say  good-bye  to  you  before  I  drink  you,  but  I 
will  thank  the  good  cow  for  giving  you,  and  the  kind  milkman  for 
bringing  you,to  me." 


64 


DR.  MILK  BOTTLE 


Km 
wM 


Dr.  Milk  Bottle  should  be  dressed  in  a  white  bottle-shaped  gown  made  over  hoops 
to  represent  a  bottle  of  milk.  The  aids  should  be  dressed  in  white,  all  their  move' 
ments  must  be  quick  and  their  tones  business-like.  The  four  girls  should  be  dressed 
as  school  girls.  Mary  is  tall,  thin  and  pale.  A  second  girl,  healthy,  red-cheeked 
and  happy,  but  otherwise  as  much  like  Mary  as  it  is  possible  to  find  her,  must  be 
ready  to  represent  Mary  after  Dr.  Milk  Bottle's  treatment.  The  roll  of  honor  is 
made  of  cardboard.  ''Physically  Fit"  is  printed  at  the  top.  There  ate  lines  for 
four  or  six  names.  In  the  lower  right-hand  corner  is  an  enlarged  copy  of  the  milk 
carpenter,  and  in  the  left-hand  corner  a  milk  bottle  with  face,  arms  and  legs  to 
represent  Dr.  Milk  Bottle. 

{Enter  bright  and   happy  girl  swinging    her    books.       From  the 
opposite  side  of  stage  a  tall  thin  girl,  listless  in  action  and  speech.) 


Helen- 


Come  up  to  the  park  with  me,  Mary.  Junior  A's 
are  going  to  practice  for  tomorrow's  athletic  meet. 
Watch  us  get  ready  to  win! 


Mary —  I  can't.    I'm  too  tired. 

(Ruth  and  Lillian,  happy  and  enthusiastic,  rush  tip  behind  them 
and  join  in  the  conversation.) 


Ruth — 


I  tell  you!  Go  home,  drink  a  glass  of  milk  and  rest 
up  a  while.  Then  come  and  see  me  win  the  swim- 
ming race — 4  o'clock  sharp. 


Mary —  Oh,  I  haven't  time!     It  takes  me  so  long  to  study. 

Besides,  I  hate  milk.     It  doesn't  agree  with  me. 

Lillian —  There  must  be  something  the  matter  with  you  then. 

Why  don't  you  see  Dr.  Milk  Bottle? 


65 


{Dr.  Milk  Bottle  enters) 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle— Who's  calling  me?  Dr.  Milk  Bottle!  Dr.  Milk 
Bottle!  Dr.  Milk  Bottle!  That's  the  cry  all  day! 
Well,  here  I  am.  I'm  a  busy  man.  Where's  the 
patient. 

Helen, 

Ruth,  Lillian —    Here  she  is! 

{Mary  looks  alarmed,  backs  away,  and  in  frightened,  halting  tones 

addresses  Dr.  Milk  Bottle.) 

Mary —  I-I-I'm  very  well,  thank  you.      P-p-p-please  don't 

come  any  nearer.  I'm  glad  to  see  you  Dr.  Milk 
Bottle.     Good  afternoon,  sir. 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — You  girls  run  along.      Have  a  good  time.      Well, 
now,  Mary,  I'll  call  my  aids  in  to  examine  you. 
Something  wrong,  Mary,  something  wrong. 
{Aids  rush  in  and  without  further  orders  put  Mary  through  a  quick 

physical  examination.      They  sound  her  chest,   examine  her  posture, 

test  her  muscles,  look  into  her  eyes,  and  make  her  poke  out  her  tongue. 

Mary  objects  in  her  own  weak  way.) 

Protein —  She's   flabby.      Notice   these   poor   little   muscles. 

Sure  sign  she  has  no  energy,  little  vitality.  A  lack 
of  protein  and  other  aids,  sir.  Give  her  cheese 
and  teach  her  to  like  the  thick  curd  of  sour  milk — 
finest  stuff  in  the  world — full  of  protein. 

Lime —  Growing  too  fast,  Mary,  but  not  strong  enough. 

Build  both  ways — tall  and  strong;  take  care  of 
bone  material — get  the  very  best  lime.  You'll  find 
full  quantity  and  quality  in  every  glass  of  milk. 
Let's  see  your  teeth.  A  good  set.  Take  care  of 
them.  Plenty  of  lime!  Finest  thing  in  the  world, 
sir. 

Fat —  Hands  cold;  eyes  lifeless,  posture  listless  and  droop- 

ing. Why,  you're  as  thin  as  a  rail!  You  need  fat 
— fat,  that's  the  stuff!  Eat  bread  and  butter — 
never  mind  the  price.  It'll  pay!  And  I  say,  Mary, 
drink  milk,  whole  bottlefuls!  That'll  make  you 
fat. 

66 


Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Drink  your  milk  slowly,  Mary.  Don't  gulp  it 
down.  A  pint  a  day,  at  least.  Come  on,  Sugar, 
this  is  a  nice  girl.    I  want  you  to  help  her. 

Sugar —  Ever  stop  to  taste  the  sugar  in  a  glass  of  milk, 

Mary?     It's  there — a  smooth,  creamy  sweetness — 
fat  and  sugar  in  milk!     Drink  milk  and  still  more 
milk.      Why,  Mary,  you'll  wake  up  and  make  the 
world  hum! 
{Mary  points  to  the  triplets  who  are  dancing  merrily  around  her.) 

Mary —  Who  are  these?    How  happy  they  look! 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Nobody  knows  much  about  them,  but  they  are 
called  the  Magic  Triplets — the  Vitamines — and 
they  are  your  very  good  and  much  needed  friends. 

Triplets —  We've  been  busy  with  you  all  right,  Mary.     You've 

grown.  That's  our  work.  But  we  need  more  lime, 
fat,  sugar  and  protein  to  carry  out  our  plans  for 
you.  Get  a  greater  quantity  of  these  things  on 
hand  by  drinking  more  milk — eating  green  vege- 
tables and  fruits  and  custards.  Milk  in  any  form 
and  all  forms  will  build  you  up — strong  and  healthy 
— a  lover  of  work,  a  good  sport. 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — I  certainly  want  all  you  little  carpenters  to  get  to 
work  on  her. 
{Mary  shows  great  signs  of  alarm.) 

Mary —  Please  Dr.  Milk  Bottle,  don't  let  them  cut  me  up 

and    hammer  nails  into  me.      I-I-I  like  you,  Dr. 
Milk  Bottle. 
{Dr.  Milk  Bottle  becomes  gentle  and  sympathetic.) 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Why,  my  child,  we  build — we  don't  tear  down. 
I've  been  looking  at  that  bit  of  color  on  your  breast 
— a  piece  of  Old  Glory — and  I've  decided  to  make 
you  fit  to  wear  it.  Want  to  be  a  good  American, 
I  take  it? 

Mary —  If  you  please,   sir,   my  father  has  taken  out  his 

papers;  he  is  a  citizen,  so  I  am  an  American. 

67 


Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Yes,  yes,  yes!  But  a  good  American  must  be 
strong  in  body  and  mind.  He  must  be  full  of  the 
energy  that  makes  a  person  want  to  work  and 
play.  Then,  too,  he  must  have  a  kind  heart  that 
urges  him  to  try  to  please  other  folks. 

Sugar —  Tis  the  sugar  in  the  milk  that  makes  life  sweet. 

Fat —  And  the  fat  in  the  milk  that  keeps  your  heart 

warm. 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — And  your  stomach,  too. 

(Magic  Triplets  seize  Mary  by  the  hand  and  whirl  her  around  in 
a  circle,  first  one  way  then  the  other,  singing) 

We  Magic  Triplets  dance  in  and  out 

And  whirl  you  all  about. 

Protein —  Muscle  building,  that's  what  protein's  for,  and  to 

help  give  energy! 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — (In  mock  consternation)  Bless  me!     Very  important 
you  think  yourselves!'     Are  you  carpenters  work- 
ing yourselves  up  for  a  strike? 
(Aids  face  one  another  in  pairs  and  keep  time  to  the  rhythm  by 

throwing  their  arms  upward  and  downward  as  they  recite  in  concert. 

When  they  recite  the  last  line  they  surround  Dr.  Milk  Bottle  and  spread 

out  their  empty  hands  before  them.     They  smile  throughout  the  jingle.) 

Aids —  Oh,  such  a  thing  to  think  of  us, 

Your  carpenters  who  never  fuss, 
Who  work  right  on  from  sun  to  sun, 
Without  our  pay,  for  work  is  fun ! 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — That's  the  spirit;  that's  the  spirit!  We  must  work 
right  on.  This  building  must  be  repaired.  We'll 
take  Mary  to  our  other  helpers.  Brother  Iron  must 
put  some  red  blood  in  these  cheeks.  The  Laxative 
Brothers  and  water  will  clean  out  her  intestines 
and  kidneys. 
(The  aids  again  surround  Mary — take  hold  of  her  arms  and  legs 

as  if  to  force  her  from  the  stage) 

Mary —  But  I'm  tired,  I  can't  keep  up  with  you  people. 

68 


Protein- 


Oh,  yes,  come  right  along,  right  along. 


Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Your  friends  won't  know  you  when  we  bring  you 
back. 

Protein —  We'll  give  you  milk,  plenty  of  milk. 

Lime —  Twice  a  day  at  least. 

Fat —  Butter  your  way  through  life. 

Sugar —  Bread  and  cereals. 

Fat —  Butter,  butter  her  path  through  life. 

All  carpenters  in  sing-song  tones  recite  as  they  hurry  Mary  of  the  stage: 
Fresh  air,  sleep,  work  and  play  and  milk,  fruits 
and  green  vegetables,  plenty  of  milk! 


Scene  II 

(Ruth,  Lillian  and  Helen  return  to  the  stage) 

Lillian —  Mary  returned  from  the  mountains  today. 

Ruth —  Have  you  seen  her?     Why,  Here's  Dr.  Milk  Bottle. 

(Dr.  Bottle  enters  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  stage.  Beside  him 
walks  the  new  Mary,  full  of  life  and  energy.  Shr  runs  over  to  her  three 
friends  and  Helen  points  to  the  girl  at  Dr.  Milk  Bottle's  side.) 


Helen- 


I  wonder  who  that  girl  is? 
69 


Mary —  Oh,  girls,  I've  had  the  most  wonderful  time!    But 

I  want  to  get  back  to  school.     I'm  going  to  join 
the  Athletic  League  and  the  Swimming  Club  and — 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — Not  so  fast,  not  so  fast!      Don't   overdo  matters. 
{The  carpenters  stand  near,  smiling) 

Fat —  Keep  your  weight. 

Protein —  Join  everything — work,  play,  hustle! 

Lime —  Keep  your  teeth  white  and  your  spine  straight. 

Sugar —  Keep  a-movin'  and  a-smilin'. 

Triplets —  {Shaking  their  fingers  at  Mary)  Stick  to  Dr.  Milk 

Bottle,  fruits  and  green  vegetables  and  we'll  stick 
to  you. 

Fat —  Butter  your  way!    Eat  butter,  that's  the  stuff! 

Protein —  Dr.   Milk  Bottle,   I  move  that   Mary's  name  be 

placed  on  our  roll  of  honor. 

Triplets —  We  second  the  motion. 

Dr.  Milk  Bottle — It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that  Mary  Young- 
er's  name  be  placed  on  our  honor  roll.    All  in  favor? 


Aids — 


Aye,  aye,  aye! 


Dr.  Milk  Bottle — The  motion  is  carried.     This,  Mary,  is  the  highest 
honor  we  can  bestow  upon  you.      You  are  fit  to 
serve  the  greatest  country  in  the  world. 
{Protein  brings  in  the  roll  of  honor,  and  Dr.  Milk  Bottle   points  to 

Mary's  name  as  he  speaks.) 


Aids — 
Aids — 


Three  cheers  for  Mary! 

{Pointing  to  Mary  and  keeping  time  with  the  right  foot) 

Twas  milk! 

Twas  milk! 

'Twas  milk  that  did  the  deed! 


70 


(A  procession  is  formed.  Dr.  Milk  Bottle  leads.  The  Aids  in 
couples  joining  right  hand  of  one  to  left  hand  of  the  other  in  the  style 
of  "London  Bridge"  come  next,  then  Mary  with  the  banner,  carried 
high,  and  lastly  the  three  friends.  All  sing  the  Health  Jingle  as  they 
pass  off  the  stage.) 

To  the  tune  of  "London  Bridge": 

Fresh  air,  sunshine,  lots  of  milk, 

Lots  of  cream, 

Lots  of  bread, 
Exercise  and  hours  of  sleep, 

Make  you  healthy. 

Bathing  daily,  rain  or  shine, 

Warm  or  cold, 

Morn  and  night, 
Open  the  pores  and  keeps  you  fit, 

My  dear  children. 


7i 


PRESS  OF 

CLARENCES.  NATHAN,  INC., 

NEW  YORK. 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


C2S(ll4l)M100 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


0041066405 


C.M  7^- 


cti 


on. 


ays    f  r 


